Heartwood's Story

Heartwood’s journey began more than 30 years ago in the small, friendly town of Star, Mississippi, when two brothers set out on an odyssey that transformed them from builders of homes for people into builders of homes for birds. Roots run deep here in Star—Jerry and Larry Glass are fourthgeneration residents. It was Jerry who first took up the call of arts and crafts, designing and handcrafting cypress creations that he and his wife Lynda sold at local craft fairs. Mrs. Glass (Jerry and Larry’s mother) inspired a new product when she pointed out the obvious: people love birds and birdhouses. And so, Heartwood was born—quickly growing large enough to require Larry’s talents on the team.
A Really Good Start

Heartwood homes were popular from the beginning. But sales truly took flight after a couple of friends urged Jerry and Larry to show their work at the annual International Gift and Home Furnishings Market, where tens of thousands of buyers and sellers gather at  AmericasMart in Atlanta. These friends were so  enthusiastic about Heartwood’s potential that they offered to underwrite the cost of the trip. Jerry and Larry declined the offer, but their friends’ confidence gave them the courage to attend.

“Jerry and I would never have taken that step without their encouragement,” Larry recalls, still remembering how intimidated they felt arriving with their products amidst the bustling crowds. But the  brothers needn’t have worried— Heartwood homes stood out. A line quickly formed at their booth, and by the time they returned home, repeat orders were already coming in. Heartwood was selling fast, all across the nation.

More Than Birdhouses

In time, Heartwood’s love of cypress led to new ventures. The product line expanded to include swings, Adirondack chairs, and, in 2007, the company began selling cypress lumber.

For a while, we successfully juggled the different parts of the company, but as lumber sales continued to rise, it became clear that this area deserved our full attention. In 2024, we made the decision to sell the birding division so we could focus entirely on lumber—building on our strengths and serving our customers even better.

Today, lumber is our sole product line. We specialize in cypress of all dimensions and grades, while also offering Southern Yellow Pine, Western Red Cedar, and more than 25 other domestic and imported hardwoods.

Our team excels at milling and processing raw materials to customer specifications with precision and efficiency. We deliver locally and ship nationwide.

Heartwood is an American story, an American success, from the ground up. That includes down-to-earth values like caring and encouragement for others, as Larry and the Heartwood staff serve as enthusiastic mentors for aspiring artisans and crafts creators. The company that specializes in architecture for the birds understands that sometimes you need a little push in order to fly.

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