Duluth Man Sells Architectural Salvage He Gathers From Churches and Schools

DULUTH, Minn. — One local man has made quite the collection of unique pieces over the years and this weekend he’s hosting a sale.

For over 30 years Bob Swanson has been collecting architectural stone. He will go into churches or schools to disassemble the buildings.
All to find those cool pieces. At the sale you can find limestone, brownstone, concrete and sandstone. Bob says he loves sharing what he has with other people and that this work keeps him young.

“School districts gonna knock down the school. And I’ll either talk to the school district or I’ll talk to the demolition people and work out a deal where I can come in and disassemble the entryways and disassemble the art, the fancy architectural elements before they knock the building down,” said Swanson, architectural stone salvager. “Keeps me in shape. Some people buy a gym membership, I just take care of my stone.”

The Architectural Salvage sale is happening from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s going on at 213 East Gary Street in Gary New Duluth.