Seguin ISD Oak
From the old Seguin High to Salt Shaker Woodworks, Oak flooring carries its story forward.
The Story
When we bought our house here in Seguin, Texas, the seller was Mr. Laird, a retired chemistry teacher from the Seguin Independent School District (Seguin ISD). During the process we had several visits, and in one of those conversations he learned I was a woodworker preparing to build my shop on the property. That’s when he mentioned he had something I might put to use.
He led me to the cold room, where a stack of old oak flooring was waiting. Mr. Laird told me it had come from the former Seguin High School, torn down to make way for the new campus. He also told me that it had once been gym flooring. He offered it to me so he wouldn’t have to move it, and I gladly accepted.
That’s how Seguin ISD Oak found its way through Mr. Laird to my shop, carrying with it a chapter of local school history and a story now continued in the pieces I create.
About the Tree
White oak (Quercus alba) is one of North America’s most respected hardwoods, admired for its strength, durability, and beauty. These trees can live for centuries, growing tall with broad canopies and deeply furrowed bark. Their acorns feed countless species of wildlife, while their wood has been prized for shipbuilding, whiskey and wine barrels, fine furniture, and sturdy flooring.
About the Wood
White oak is renowned for its strength and timeless character, which is why it has long been used for everything from ship timbers and barrels to flooring that could endure decades of use. The Seguin ISD oak boards show their reclaimed origin in subtle ways — nail holes that have been carefully filled before being worked into new pieces. While the wear marks and patina of their former life were planed away during preparation, each board still carries the history of where it came from, now ready to serve a new purpose in the shop.
Why It Matters
Reclaimed wood carries more than character in its grain — it carries memory. When Lisa Jubela, a former Seguin High School student, stood with me holding a charcuterie board made from Seguin ISD Oak, she shared how she once played volleyball on that very flooring. For both of us, it was a reminder that this wood is more than material saved from demolition. It’s a bridge between past and present — a way of preserving community history and giving it new life in the pieces I create at Salt Shaker Woodworks.
Made From Seguin ISD Oak
Cutting board with Seguin ISD Oak accent framed in mesquite — this one has found its new home.
Striped cutting board featuring Seguin ISD Oak accents with maple, padauk, and more — already sold, but more unique pieces will come.
The Seguin ISD Oak pieces shown above have already found their homes, and there is nothing currently available in this wood. More will be made in time, and each one will carry its own story.
In the meantime, you can: