Dreyer Mesquite
From Mr. Dreyer’s pasture, cut and milled with care, this Mesquite carries its story forward.
This is the story that began them all — the reason I started sharing the stories behind every wood I gather.
The Story
For years I rode past a farmhouse on FM 78 outside Marion, Texas, noticing two mesquite trees in the front yard that looked nearly dead. One day I finally pulled in, got off my bike, and introduced myself to the man on the porch — Mr. Alton Dreyer. I told him I was a woodworker and asked if I could have those two trees, “since they’re about 98% dead.”
He smiled, shook his head, and said, “Son, I was born in that room right there. I’ve got a lot of good memories climbing those two trees as a boy, so until they’re 100% dead, I’m not cutting them down.” Then he added that he thought we might still be able to help each other out, and told me to get in his truck.
He drove me out to one of his pastures — about 180 acres — which was full of mesquite, from scrub to giants over three feet across. He explained he was about to hire a dozer to push them into piles and burn them, but if I would cut them low enough for his shredder to pass, I could have all the wood I wanted.
I brought in a WoodMizer bandsaw mill and set it up in the pasture. Mr. Dreyer was so excited to see the whole operation in action that he dragged logs up to the mill with his tractor — something that wasn’t even part of the deal. His help saved us the rental cost of a bobcat and a lot of time, and he stayed to watch us run the saw. On breaks, he shared stories — about serving as a navigator on a B-17 in WWII, being shot down over Germany, and nearly mistaken for a spy because he spoke German. He still carried shrapnel in his leg from that mission, a reminder of how close he had come to not making it home.
By the end, we had milled 103 mesquite logs. I air-dried them on my land near Stockdale, using much of it to make hardwood flooring for the house I was building. That wood has carried his name ever since: Dreyer Mesquite.
Mr. Dreyer was a kind, humorous, good-hearted man. He passed away in 2011, and the world is a lesser place for it. But his trees — and his story — carry forward in every board that bears his name. With much of that Dreyer Mesquite still in my shop today, the story is far from finished — it continues in the pieces you see here.
About the Tree
Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) is woven into the Texas landscape. Hardy and resilient, it thrives where little else will — along fence lines, in pastures, and across rangeland. With twisting branches, sharp thorns, and roots that run deep, mesquite is more survivor than shade tree, but that grit is what defines it.
Though often cleared as scrub, mesquite can grow impressively large, with trunks reaching over three feet in diameter. Beneath the rough bark lies dense, richly colored heartwood ranging from warm honey tones to deep chocolate brown, often streaked with character from a life spent in the harsh Texas sun.
What many see as a nuisance, craftsmen recognize as a treasure: a native Texas hardwood with uncommon beauty and strength.
The tree shown here is simply an example of the species — not the exact mesquite trees that supplied the Dreyer boards.
About the Wood
Mesquite is as tough as Texas itself. Dense, heavy, and full of character, it’s a hardwood that doesn’t give up its beauty easily. Its grain swirls with knots, checks, and shifts in color — from golden browns to deep reds and chocolates — telling the story of a tree that grew in heat, drought, and hard ground.
That toughness makes it both a challenge and a reward in the shop. Mesquite can blunt tools and demand patience, but it also machines clean, sands smooth, and finishes to a warm glow that highlights every figure in the grain. Its stability is remarkable for such a dense wood, making it a favorite for everything from fine furniture to cutting boards meant for daily use.
For me, Dreyer Mesquite carries more than just the qualities of the species. These boards hold the legacy of a kind man, the work of my own hands, and the resilience of a Texas hardwood that refuses to be overlooked.
Why It Matters
Every board of Dreyer Mesquite carries more than the story of a Texas hardwood — it carries the story of the man behind it. What began as two trees I thought were “98% dead” became a friendship, a lesson in generosity, and a legacy that shaped how I tell the stories of all my wood today.
Mesquite itself is a reminder of resilience. It grows where little else will, surviving heat, drought, and hard ground, and its wood is as strong and beautiful as the struggle it endured. Paired with Mr. Dreyer’s kindness — offering me the chance to mill trees that would otherwise have been bulldozed and burned — this lumber became something greater than material.
For me, working with Dreyer Mesquite is about honoring that gift. Each piece I make continues both the story of the tree and the memory of a man who gave me more than wood — he gave me the reason to begin sharing the stories behind every board I gather.
Made From Dreyer Mesquite
Charcuterie board made from Dreyer Mesquite, accented with Purpleheart and lighter hardwoods — available now.
Hand-turned candy dish made from Dreyer Mesquite — available now.
Hand-turned wine bottle stopper made from Dreyer Mesquite with a U.S. Space Force emblem — available now.
The story of Dreyer Mesquite is still unfolding in the shop. The pieces above are available now, each one linked directly to its product page so you can take a closer look. Beyond these, the Salt Shaker Woodworks store holds even more to explore, with new Mesquite creations still to come.
And if you have something specific in mind, I’d be honored to craft a custom piece from this reclaimed stock, bringing your idea to life in the rich warmth of Mesquite.