Building a commitment to community
The story of Shell Lake Woodcrafters is the story of the talented local men and women who craft our product.
Our factory is located in Shell Lake in the beautiful North Woods of northwestern Wisconsin. Since our beginnings in 1991, community has played an important role in our company.
Our Team
Many of our employees have built long, fulfilling careers at Shell Lake Woodcrafters. Their skill, character and dedication are the strength of our company. They are what make us a respected and valued part of our small community, the reason we call ourselves “The Best Little Woodworking Company in America.”
“I love contributing to the creation of beautiful pieces, and that I am able to put my personal touch on almost every piece we produce.”
– Laurie Frey, Craftswoman and employee since 1998
Our History
Originally called Beaver Manufacturing, Shell Lake Woodcrafters was founded in 1991 by Lavern Modrow. Inspired by American Arts and Crafts visionary Gustav Stickley, the company was built around the ideals of craftsmanship, quality materials and honest work. Soon his small shop became known for its well-designed, well-built wood furniture as well as antique boat restorations and custom residential cabinetry.
In 1993, the company started making store fixtures and eventually Arts and Crafts inspired furniture for a growing Midwestern furniture retailer. More than two decades later, we continue to craft what has become the retailer’s largest and most successful line of custom wood furniture.
As we continued to grow throughout the 1990s, custom furniture began to emerge as our specialization. Architects, designers and retail businesses looked to us for unique and well-crafted furniture for their clients and customers as our reputation for solid workmanship, responsiveness and dependability spread by word of mouth.
In 2006, Beaver Manufacturing became Shell Lake Woodcrafters under new owners Dan and Pam Ringwelski and Don and Susan Hamstra. We are proud to bring many years of experience to the business, as well as a passion for its people and the product we create. As we look to the future, our goal is to uphold and strengthen the commitment to craftsmanship and community that has come to define Shell Lake Woodcrafters both in the Midwest and nationwide.