Andrew Buchwalter was dismayed at having incurred his first traffic ticket. Little did the teenager know the incident planted the seeds for his dream business.
“I was stopped for speeding in front of this house, and I decided that if it ever went up for sale, I’d buy it,” he said.
Several years later, he did, having been drawn to the property because of his rural roots and for the opportunities its 17 acres held. The picturesque setting became his home and the site of Andrew Thomas Design and Golden Corners Greenhouse.
Buchwalter creates floral designs for weddings and other events, of any scale. He considers his approach innovative, as his designs are inspired by nature and his clients’ personalities. He also consults on home and garden design and offers workshops.
Two centuries earlier, Lisbon resident and militiaman Thomas Armstrong passed through Wooster en route to battle during the War of 1812, sowing the seeds for what would become his home. Upon arriving at Fort Meigs, he befriended Joseph Larwill, who urged him to consider settling in a town he’d recently co-founded, Wooster.
Armstrong took heed and in 1813 obtained a patent for 160 acres north of town, beginning the process of ownership of land offered by the U.S. government. There, he built a log home and relocated his wife and five children.
In 1840 Armstrong’s former commander, William Henry Harrison, made time to visit while campaigning for U.S. president.
Andrew Buchwalter now owns that property, situated in a place once called Golden Corners. The unincorporated community had a general store, schoolhouse and a few merchants. Its post office operated from 1854-1901.
Buchwalter’s home, which an Armstrong descendant told him had been an Underground Railroad stop, was built in 1850 using bricks made on-site. It features intricate wood trim, double-Christian doors and a banister made from one piece of cherry. When Buchwalter purchased the home, it was in great disrepair.
“I didn’t know what I was getting into,” he said. “But the home is gradually being restored.”
Buchwalter does most of the work, having learned many trades while living and working with an Amish family after high school. He has taken care to salvage all the woodwork and flooring as much as possible.
Aside from house restoration, he had more plans for the grounds. As a fifth-generation horticulturalist who grew up working in the family business, Buchwalter Greenhouse, he started Andrew Thomas Design at the age of 25. He also had worked in design in New York City for clients including the White House, J.P. Morgan, Elton John, Starbucks and Cleveland pro sports teams.
“My formal education is from Ohio State in architecture,” he said. “However, my on-the-job education from as early as I can remember greatly enhanced my skills. I’ve had a lifetime of experience.”
Several years after purchasing the property, Buchwalter constructed his studio, incorporating elements of the house’s Greek Revival aesthetic. There, he designs all manner of installations, ceremony decor, bouquets, centerpieces and cake flowers. He also creates floral crowns, jewelry and baskets. His services include rental of decor, containers, furniture and structures, and delivery, setup and day-of coordination. Events may be held on-site as well.
“The studio is appropriate for gatherings of under 100 guests,” Buchwalter said. “But we’ve done tented events for 300.”
Buchwalter soon expanded his capabilities by building the greenhouse and now cultivates many heirloom floral specimens. He started the majority from seed in wooden propagation flats, which he hand-built and which are modeled after those his family used long ago, before plastics.
Visitors may purchase vegetables, herbs, climbers, perennials and annuals including 25 varieties of scented geraniums and rarities such as a black bat flower.
“I strive to introduce hard-to-find, old-fashioned varieties that perform well in our climate,” Buchwalter said.
He further practiced sustainable land stewardship by restoring the century-old orchard. Many of his 200 fruit trees, grafted from young scion wood and planted bare root, will bear, for the first time this year, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, apples, apricots, quince and pluots.
“As the orchard develops, we hope to provide fruits as they’re available, as well as the opportunity to purchase trees and berry plants,” Buchwalter said.
Also ripening on the property are Concord grapes, currants and raspberries.
In need of a convenient water source? Why not try the ancient practice of water divining? Buchwalter thought. He detected a spring, and a windmill he built now powers the water pump.
“Because we seldom use herbicides, insecticides or pesticides, the farm harbors a plethora of flora and fauna that I think aren’t found in many places anymore,” Buchwalter said. “And I believe that plants, like people, are sensitive. We’re meant to be connected to each other. Here, everything is happy, and you can feel it.”
Andrew Thomas Design and Golden Corners Greenhouse are located at 9216 Burbank Road in Wooster. For hours, events and more information, visit www.andrewthomasdesign.com or follow the businesses on Facebook.
