Retirement doesn’t mean work stops
Dan Markell is jotting down the number of days until his retirement as a sales representative for United Catholic Financial. It's not so much unusual for someone to keep track of how many working days they have remaining. What is unusual is what Markell is keeping track on.
Among Markell's longtime hobbies are restoring old furniture, working with leather, and woodworking. To count down the number of days until his official retirement, the personable Markell constructed a chalkstand, utilizing "retired" materials.
The chalkboard used in the stand came from the old Marshall High School on Fourth Street where Markell graduated from in 1966. The school was razed in 2006. "My wife, kids and future daughter-in-law helped get many loads before the bulldozers and wrecking balls were on site," he noted.
The wood frame and stand holding up the chalkboard was made from the old floorboards of the former Lyon County courthouse that was torn down approximately 25 years ago. "I have also made many other things from the salvaged materials," Markell mentioned.
Markell and his wife Arlene, who have been married for 48 years, live in the country between Green Valley and Ghent. Arlene is a retired Marshall schoolteacher. Dan worked for 25 years in the office of Schwan's in Marshall before being employed with Catholic United the past 101/2 years. He has been restoring antique furniture for many years, but specializes in the restoration of various types of antique wooden trunks. "I have probably restored around 250 trunks," he said.
"Most of them are in pretty bad shape because they are so old or have been sitting in a damp basement. But they have sentimental meaning to people and they want them restored."
The majority of the trunks Markell works on were originally made in the late 1800s, and they have sentimental value to those owning them. Some are similar looking to a pirate's treasure chest. "Some of these trunks were passed down from their parents or grandparents," said Markell.
"And the people want to keep them because they are a family heirloom." But many of the antiquated trunks Markell has had brought to him are in rough shape, such as missing the tray or having broken handles; making the restoration process even more of a challenge.
“Some of these trunks were passed down from their parents or grandparents,” said Markell. “And the people want to keep them because they are a family heirloom.”
But many of the antiquated trunks Markell has had brought to him are in rough shape, such as missing the tray or having broken handles; making the restoration process even more of a challenge."Some of the trunks I get look like they have been through a war," he laughed.
"They have a lot of battle scars. Very seldom do I restore a trunk to its original state, unless it's been requested," he explained.
"The people just want them to be functional again." The first trunk Markell ever worked on is still displayed in the bedroom of his home. He and Arlene purchased it for $5 in 1971. "Before we were married, we liked to go to antique sales together," Markell said.
"We found this old camel-back trunk in Ivanhoe. At that time, everyone had avocado kitchens, so we painted this one avocado." Over the years, the Markells began finding and purchasing other trunks at sales or auctions. "We have six or seven of them in our house," Markell said.
"And all my kids and grandkids have a trunk now. I restored one for my parents, too. We don't buy them anymore, though. We have enough now." But there always seems to be a trunk or two in his basement work area that someone has brought to him to be restored. It's time-consuming, but the finished project is beautiful. Markell explained that he usually has to build a new tray for the antique trunks, thus utilizing his woodworking skills.
Or he has to make a new leather handle, another utilization of one of his skills.
He also has to remove the old wallpaper lining inside the trunk, which is a slow and time-consuming process, and replaces it with cedar or a new vintage wallpaper pattern. Markell replaces the bottom if the wood is rotted or the metal has rusted and caused pinholes in it.
He also goes through a laborious process of making the replacement parts and hardware of the restored trunk appear as though they are still antique in appearance. Markell's leather skills go back to 1960 when he was in seventh grade and was taught basic leather working in shop class. He has been working with leather now for parts of seven decades; making belts, fancy lacing, sandals, checkbook covers, book covers and more.
When Markell enlisted in the Army, he was assigned to basic training at Fort Bliss in Texas, and later assigned for training as a helicopter repairman/crewman at Fort Eustis in Virginia.
"Having some free time, because of the monthly salary of a Private E-2, and because there was a craft shop within walking distance, leather working seemed to be the logical choice," Markell said.
"Before my helicopter company; 271st ASHS deployed from Fort Benning, GA, to Vietnam in 1968, I custom made many leather knife sheaths, holsters and axe sheaths."
As well as his leather works, Markell also spends his free time restoring chairs, tables, secretary desks, roll-top desks, trunks and much more. Almost all of the restoration work he does is self-taught.
"If it's wood, I've probably restored it," he remarked. For more information, call Dan at 507-530-6433, or visit his website at www.markellsantique.com.