When Hurricane Helene toppled thirty trees on his mountain property in Valle Crucis, master craftsman Tom Ullman turned destruction into symbols of hope — nearly 1,500 crosses and counting.
"I could make something good out of something bad."Tom Ullman — High Point Enterprise, 2026
Tom Ullman has been working with wood since he was 14 years old. After studying at Purdue University and a decade learning the trade at Burlington Furniture and Alma Desk Company, he founded Ullmanique in 1990.
For over 35 years, Ullmanique crafted bespoke hardwood furniture in High Point, NC — the furniture capital of the world. Tom's work was never just furniture. It was legacy.
Tom has been in the furniture industry since 1977 — but his love of woodworking started even earlier. At age 14, he built his first pool table as a high school freshman. That spark never faded.
After graduating from Purdue University, Tom's father gave him advice he still calls the best he ever received: "Go work for someone for 5 to 10 years and get real-life experience before going out on your own."
Tom did exactly that — first at Burlington Furniture in Lexington, NC, then at the Alma Desk Company in High Point. In 1990, he launched Ullmanique, building it into one of the region's premier custom hardwood furniture studios for over 35 years.
On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene dumped 25 inches of rain on the mountains. At Tom and his wife Carol's home in Valle Crucis — at 3,284 feet of elevation — over 30 trees came crashing down. Some blocked the driveway so badly he had to chainsaw his way out just to get home.
"If you have that on your bucket list, take it off — don't ever go through a hurricane if there's any way you can avoid it."— Tom Ullman
Less than 24 hours after the storm, as Tom headed back to High Point, he saw a large Samaritan's Purse truck in Boone — already distributing water and supplies. That image would stay with him.
Tom had actually started making small crosses a few weeks before Helene hit, inspired by a friend. After the storm, he made 30 or 40 and started giving them away to neighbors who'd been through the worst of it. They insisted on paying. That's when the idea clicked.
When neighbors insisted on paying for the crosses he'd been giving away, Tom had a thought: "Why not take a portion of what I make and donate it back to Samaritan's Purse? I could make something good out of something bad." Each cross is hand-cut from trees felled by Helene — white oak, red oak, walnut, catalpa, poplar, hickory — sanded smooth and finished with care.
"We were so blessed that we didn't have damage at our house, and that's why I want to help people that did. That's the purpose behind this whole thing."— Tom Ullman
A portion of every purchase supports Samaritan's Purse rebuilding High Country communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.
Wood from 30+ trees felled by Hurricane Helene on Tom's mountain property.
Hand-cut on the bandsaw, working with the natural grain and spalting patterns.
Sanded and finished with 35+ years of fine furniture craftsmanship.
Each piece ships with a card showing the actual fallen tree it came from.
Tom brings 35+ years of master furniture-making to every custom project. Unique crosses, special cutting boards, one-of-a-kind pieces — all from hurricane-salvaged mountain hardwoods.
Let's Create Something Together"The cross is absolutely beautiful. Knowing it was made from a tree that survived decades on a mountaintop makes it even more meaningful."
Etsy Review
"Tom's craftsmanship is extraordinary. The card with the photo of the original tree was such a thoughtful touch."
Etsy Review
"I bought several as gifts and everyone was deeply moved by the story. It's not just a cross — it's a piece of the mountain."
Etsy Review
"Purchased for our church group. The quality and story behind each cross made them incredibly special."
Etsy Review
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Whether you need a custom piece, have questions about an order, or just want to hear more of Tom's story — we'd love to hear from you.
Every piece carries the story of a mountain, a storm, and a craftsman who refused to let destruction have the last word.