From the outside, it looks like just another warehouse, but step inside the Building Supply Recycling Center and you feel as if you are picking apart pieces of history.
Don Oberg salvages just about everything you can imagine. You will find lumber, cabinets, doors, mantles, plumbing fixtures and more in his warehouse.
Some parts come from houses that are being demolished or renovated. A wooden pew came from an old church, while a door is an original from the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill.
One of the most popular items is an antique claw-foot tub.
"People have fond memories of childhood," says Oberg. "A lot of people come in and they see the old claw-footed tub and say 'That's just what I took a bath in when I was child.'"
A lot of Oberg's customers live in old neighborhoods like Duke Park.
Bill Anderson is renovating his house and wanted parts that fit the period.
"You can renovate a great deal cheaper than trying to buy reproductions. They're pretty pricey," he says.
Even if you are not into renovating, you still might find a place for something like an old porcelain sink or a weathered double window as a piece of art.
The warehouse is packed with gadgets and knicknacks. Just add a little bit of imagination and who knows? You could end up with something you can live with.
"It gives you a piece of history in your own home," says Oberg.
The Building Supply Recycling Center is located at 302 East Pettigrew Street in Durham.
• Credits
Copyright 2023 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
