Meet the Builders
Getting to know Tad Taivaloja
Fig. 1 – (Keweenaw Mt. Lodge) One of my great grandfathers projects in 1935.
Fig. 2 – Inside the dining hall of the Mt. Lodge.
Fig. 3 – Me and my father John outside of the church that my great–grandfather built in 1952
Fig.4 – He also constructed the pews.
Fig. 5 – My grandfather Wilho Taivaloja outside our newly constructed camp in 1934.
Fig. 6 – My great–grandfather John Taivaloja adding a full dormer to the camp in 1963
Fig. 7 – My father John Taivaloja outside the camp in 2007
Fig. 8 – Me outside the camp in 2006
Me my wife Amy and our two dogs
Chloe and Clyde.
The love for the art of log crafting goes back many generations in my family. My great-great grandfather Joonas Taivaloja immigrated to Calumet, MI. from Pudasjarvi, Finland in 1891. His son John, my greatgrandfather, grew up to be a well known log carpenter (as they used to be called) in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Northern Michigan. He was involved in many important projects in the early 1900’s, including the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge (Fig. 1 & 2) and Our Lady of the Pines Church in Copper Harbor MI. (Fig. 3 & 4), which are still being used to this day. He and my grandfather Wilho built our family camp on the shore of lake superior in 1934 (Fig. 5 – 8). It was such a pleasure to be able to spend so many family vacations there as a child and now to be able to spend them there with my own family is a blessing not many people get to enjoy. This camp is where all my inspiration comes from and just knowing that it was built so long ago by my own ancestors makes it that much more special to me. To this day I am still fascinated by the quality of their log joinery, they didn’t have chainsaws, grinders, fancy scribes or any of our modern tools, yet every log has fit together perfectly for over 70 years.
I have always loved building things with my hands, but it was always just a hobby and I never thought I could earn a living doing it. After graduating from high school I went to college so I could get a real job, so I thought. I was majoring in Sports Medicine/Physical Therapy and was very good at it. I was ready to finish my degree at a prestige graduate school with a well renown Sports Medicine program, so I sold my house, transferred my job to a different state and had apartment picked out in the new town in which I was going to live. I was all ready to move when my wife Amy asked me if I was sure this is what I wanted to do. She knew I wasn’t really happy with the medical field I was pursuing and simply pointed out that all I ever read about or talked about was log carpentery and woodworking in general. She was right, I never spent any spare time looking at medical journals or doing any extra studying that wasn’t required at school. Then it dawned on me that I didn’t even like what I was doing and I knew right then that I would never be truly happy unless I was using my hands to build, not to perform therapy. I was already burned out with school from taking so many additional courses and I needed a change. I decided right there that I was not going to move and that I would try out the log building industry for the summer to see what I thought of it. That summer turned into a life altering experience for me and I am so thankful it was something I was able to do.
Later that week after my revalation I applied for a job with a local log builder and because of my background and knowledge I got the job and started work the following week. Do to my vast array of knowledge and my skills with a chainsaw it didn't take long before my co-workers were looking to me to take charge of the crew. After spending some time in the industry and building many homes I felt that my knowledge and skill was not being used to it’s full potential and it felt only natural to go into business for myself.
If it wasn’t for the undying support of my wife Amy I don’t think it would ever of been possible. She allowed me to quit my job and school without argument so that I could pursue my dream, all along knowing that I would not have any guaranteed income. She listens to me ramble on everyday like a gitty school boy about things I did or learned that day that I think are exciting, which she doesn't really understand, but she always supportive, smiles and says she's happy when I'm happy. For her support I am forever grateful.
I didn't have the money at first to buy any of the machinery needed to build log homes so I started out building and selling log furniture under my original business name Log Creations. After a few years in the furniture industry I had a client ask if I would build him a log cabin, so I got ahold of a previous co-worker whom had a crane and we decided that together we could afford to start a log home company. That led to the birth of North Country Log Homes, Inc., which due to our knowledge of wood and joinery techniques, has become a thriving company in northern Minnesota. I am still very well known for my furniture so until the orders stop coming in I will keep on building it for anyone whom wishes to decorate their home with my handiwork.
One of the many joys of log construction is that every home I build is completely different than any other. By keeping the logs in their natural state and hand-scribing each one together I am guaranteed that each cut I make will be completely different than the last. This means everyday brings a new and exciting challenge to face and this is what I love about log crafting. Working with logs and timber is in my blood, I am very passionate about my work and I always strive for perfection just the way my ancestors did. To me there is no excuse to cut corners to save time or money and this is a principal I live by. I demand nothing but the best from myself and my clients should expect the same. Knowing that I am crafting a home in which another family is going to live and create their own memories is one of the greatest joys in life.
I hope this article about myself has enlightened you into understanding where the passion for my job comes from. I think it is very important for a person to know who they will be working with during their journey towards a new home or cabin. I love getting up and going to work each and everyday and I hope to be doing it for many more years to come.
Tad Taivaloja
"log carpenter"
Meet Steve Brown
At North Country Log Homes Inc we understand that building a handcrafted log home is different than any other type of home. The process demands a high level of intimacy between the builder and the homeowners, and I would like to take this opportunity to allow you to get to know me, Stephen Brown.
I like to consider myself a Minnesota native, though my roots take me from the western parts of the country across to the east with stops in between. Minnesota is home, as my formidable years have been spent here enjoying the north woods and experiencing the joys that come with living in such an amazing environment. From salmon and trout fishing the streams of the North Shore, to canoe and camping adventures in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the lifestyle of this region is what has developed an appreciation in me for the natural world, and a drive to create beautiful homes that not only exemplify this beauty, but also help to preserve it.
I have had a certain amount of interest and spent a large degree of my educational background studying the arts, and I choose to incorporate this into what I create. From furniture to homes I strongly believe there is always a place to incorporate art and design, and with this I like to produce items that say something about me, while at the same time reflecting on a client’s personality as well. The individuality of a log home alone is the fundamental basis for the industry of the handcrafter, and it is this characteristic that attracts me to it.
My career as a log builder began out of the desire to create, but arriving at this place has been crafted out of many differing jobs and career paths ranging from sailing the great lakes on ore carriers to baking bread and decorating wedding cakes. It is this juxtaposition of two differing worlds, one being that of creativity like mentioned above, the other being a world of hard labor such as hand peeling logs and full days of chainsaw cutting, which really sets log construction apart from many other fields making it appeal to me.
I hope that this introduction helps you understand a little bit about myself and that it can help open up a dialogue between us. If you have any questions feel free to contact us, and good luck on your research into the world of log homes.
Stephen Brown