Gingerbread for Dummies (And Smart People Too!)

Gingerbread houses aren't just for Christmas time.  Blue Ox Millworks manufactures a wide variety of fully custom gingerbread and scrollwork for homes across the country.  Whether your project is a classic Queen Anne or a Russian East Orthodox church, the artisans at Blue Ox stand ready to go to work for you.

(At right): Blue Ox manufactured wooden paper doll balusters and custom scrollwork for this Russian style home in Boston.

Spanning the Centuries

Spandrels, sunbursts, paperdoll balusters, redwood shingles, whatever your job may require, the craftsmen at Blue Ox know how to help. We have worked with nearly every element of Victorian architecture, and if we don't know how to make something, we'll find out.  We have a full Victorian jobshop, with lathe room, shingle mill, moulder shop, door and window shop, blacksmith shop, plaster shop, and nearly every woodworking tool from the Victorian era.

(At left): Custom spandrel for a home on F Street in Eureka.

Most Victorian gingerbread these days is mass produced, but at Blue Ox we take great care with each ornament, often hand carving delicate historic elements, and nearly all our exterior work is done in salvaged all heart old growth redwood, so your ornamentation will last for a hundred years or more.  Eric Hollenbeck personally oversees each job, to make sure that his customers receive the same Blue Ox quality that has made our shop famous for over thirty years.  All of our gingerbread is fully custom.  We can work off of photographs, diagrams, or even just a quick sketch.

(At right): Eric carves an architectural detail in this photograph by Jay Mather.

Just a Cut Ahead

At Blue Ox, we have a tool for every job.  Whether you are looking for the pure authenticity of our human powered tool collection, or the blazing power of our automated shingle machine, whether you're looking for a crisp mortise and tennon joint, or just want some tongue and groove from our moulder shop, Blue Ox are the suppliers for your millwork needs.

(At left): Some decorative scrollwork eagerly awaits its packing material on the shop floor.

We custom make what you need

Gutters • Corbels • Doors • Windows • Spandrels • Handrail • Rosettes • Plinth Blocks • Custom Moulding • Finials • Columns • Balusters • Widow's Walks • Shingles • Board and Batten • Floor boards • Siding • Dentils • Window Casing • Paperdoll Balusters • Corner Blocks • Sunbursts • Festoons • Gables • Brackets • Newel Posts • Cornice • Frieze • Mantles • Porticos • Lintels • Spindle work • Capitals • Chair Rail • Fretwork • Wainscoting • Arrowsmiths •  Decorative trim • Anything that your woodworking project might need!

(At right): Just a few of the many custom architectural details on display in our shop.

Eric Hollenbeck has been working with wood for over forty years, and his expertise has been utilized by the president of the United States, the U.S. Cabinet, Senators, Governors' Mansions, historic parks and cathedrals, revolutionary war era forts, and thousands of others.  He is an expert in all levels of Victorian architecture and has helped to restore thousands of historical homes across the United States and Canada.  If you have a question, Eric would be more than happy to discuss the details of your project.  Send an email, or give him a call at (800) 248-4259.

(At left):  Eric stands behind a custom wooden spandrel with sunbursts, rosettes, and custom turnings

Blue Ox is more than just another manufacturer, we are a Victorian architectural job shop.  That means that we oversee every step in the creation of your architectural elements.  We have our own mill so that we can mill up all our lumber to dimension, just like they did in Victorian times.  Our two by fours are actually two by fours, not one and a half by three and a half.  We do the design work, we mill the lumber, we do the scroll work and turning, we hand carve, and we assemble the product so that all that needs to be done on site is to attach it and paint it.

(At right:) A hand carved piece of scrollwork awaits a few finishing touches before being added to a custom decorative gable.

The Ox can Help

Whether you need a portico, a pediment, or just an interesting touch for your door or window, the fine craftsmen at Blue Ox Millworks are ready to help.  Come to us for any restoration, renovation, replacement, or new construction.  Send us an email and ask about specifics for your project, or call the Blue Ox at (800) 248-4259

(At right): Eric poses with a piece of scrollwork in this 1980s era photo by Neil Gilchrist