After 110 years, historic NYC millwork firm shutting down

After 110 years, historic NYC millwork firm shutting down June 26, 2026 | 8:12 am CDT

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Architectural Products

Woodworking Industry News

Video

After 110 years, historic NYC millwork firm shutting down

By

William Sampson

June 26, 2026 | 8:12 am CDT

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Thomas Lupo is the third generation owner of American Wood Column Corp. in New York City, which is shutting down after 110 years in business.

Through three generations and 110 years, the American Wood Column Corp. has been creating architectural millwork in New York City, but owner Thomas Lupo, now in is 70s, says it is time to shut it down.

In a compelling video, Lupo talks about the history of the company going back to his grandfather who started more than a century ago. As it's name suggests, the company makes architectural wood columns, but it also does composite mouldings. Much of the video is shot in a room with three walls of floor to ceiling shelves packed with thousands of numbered hand-carved molds to make the mouldings. All the numbers correspond to samples in racks of wall-mounted displays.

Lupo shows off samples of the intricate work the company does, historic photos of the shop and employees, and even talks about the shop's involvement in making columns and mouldings for famous movies, including the funeral seen in "The Godfather."

Produced and directed by Joshua Charow, the video interview with Lupo is a poignant look at the end of an era of hand craftsmanship in architectural millwork in New York. Watch it below.

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About the author

William Sampson

William Sampson is a lifelong woodworker, and he has been an advocate for small-scale entrepreneurs and lean manufacturing since the 1980s. He was the editor of Fine Woodworking magazine in the early 1990s and founded WoodshopBusiness magazine, which he eventually sold and merged with CabinetMaker magazine. He helped found the Cabinet Makers Association in 1998 and was its first executive director. Today, as editorial director of Woodworking Network and FDMC magazine he has more than 20 years experience covering the professional woodworking industry. His popular "In the Shop" tool reviews and videos appear monthly in FDMC.

Read more articles from this author

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After 110 years, historic NYC millwork firm shutting down

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