Wabash Trading Post

Bob & Deb Foreman opened this quaint store in August, 2010, after Bob retired as a landscaper and tree service business and discovered a passion for chain saw art. Together, Bob & Deb, pictured below, remodeled this old store and created the Wabash Trading Post.  Online, you’ll find them here: www.wabashtradingpost.com.   Onsite, you can reach them: 101 Front Street, West Union, WV  26456, (304) 873-2319.

In the photo album, you can see several of his creations, the inside of the store, and his work area in West Union, WV.

Bob's work site is immediately adjacent to the shop and faces the main road, so he is easy to find. The site is littered with chain saws and wood chips - as it turns out, Bob has them sharpened different ways for different types of cuts, including a chain saw with a custom handle for upside down cutting.  Deb tends the shop while Bob carves – he creates works of art in other media, too: deer antler and bone carving are among Bob’s specialties. 

Talking with Bob, we discovered he is a true artist: he sees things in his mind’s eye and can create them in wood.  Bob told us that sometimes, when he has an artist’s equivalent of “writer’s block” when chainsaw carving, that he will pick up a hunk of antler and carve the typical old man face.  In the process of hand carving, or whittling a small piece of bone or antler will “clear his head” so he can return to the chain saw art. Bob's chain saw carvings are not "pure chain saw" like some other artisans. He uses a variety of tools, including sanders, chisels and torches to achieve the depth, shadow and other relief contours necesssary to bring out the character of his creations.

In their store, Deb and Bob also host other artisan’s works, including some wood turnings, glass work, handmade flies & lures, antler creations and paintings. On the left is a before and after of their country style store.

Do you have an idea for a carving? Carved bears, eagles, signs and benches will always be available for purchase - layaway available. Come check out the carvings and the price. Ask for Bob - he is the only carver in West Union, WV.

Wabash Trading Post Photo Album