After being closed for a few months while it's owner chose to retire, Hummel's Good Furniture, a well-known custom and unfinished furniture store in Orwigsburg, has reopened under new ownership and a new name, Sculps Hill Good Furniture.

Charlie Hummel, owner of the 25-year old business, had closed his store along Route 61 on Jan. 22 so he could retire. Hummel didn't have to look very far for a buyer. His stepson, Marc Ray, chose to buy the business, which is located at 1142 Centre Turnpike (SR61).Hummel hired Ray two years ago to help in the finishing department. With the help of Bill Spotts, who has worked for Hummel since the fall of 2005, Ray learned the trade. Currently, Spotts is leasing the barn from Hummel for his business, which is called Mad Hatter Stripping and Refinishing. That is where the finishing takes place and the location used to refinish or repair old furniture.Some of the unfinished and finished items for sale consist of bedroom sets, toy boxes, television consoles, bookcases, tables, chairs, islands, cabinets, rockers, butcher blocks and much more."When I asked him if I could keep the business going, Charlie was pretty happy about that," said Ray.In 1874, Hummel's great-grandfather, Levi Hummel, opened the first Hummel's Good Furniture in Pottsville.Ray, who is leasing the building from Hummel, who retains ownership, changed the store's name to Sculps Hill Good Furniture and painted the inside walls, cleaned the carpet and bought new furnishings.Ray pointed out that the new name represents the popular history of the area. Sculps Hill is believed to refer to Indian massacres that occurred in southern Schuylkill County during the French and Indian War in the 1750s and '60s. As a child, Ray would search for arrow heads on the property.Ray and Potts pointed out that the finishing process involves all the steps necessary to bring a piece of raw wood to a finished one. While finishing a table, chair, dresser or other item, for example, the furniture needs to be taken apart, sanded, stained or painted, then a spray is used to seal the wood. It is sanded again and a lacquer is then applied.Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, call Ray at (484) 651-0469 or or via email at

mignon4u@comcast.net. Or call Spotts at (570) 294-3843 to give your old furniture a new look."I was very pleased that Marc was willing to give it a shot," said Hummel. "I'm really glad the business will stay in the family."