Dale Sukeforth Quality and distinction from a small Maine workshop (Photo Don Perkins)

The hunt began four years ago. Sukeforth was constructing an outbuilding for his lawn tractor and wanted to add one of these old windows. "I was reminded of one of the windows my grandmother had in her house," he said. "I did come across one or two used ones, but they were in poor shape." So Sukeforth went ahead and made his own. Now there are two gracing that small outbuilding.

Sukeforth is a self-taught woodworker who says he's been building things from wood since hammering together treehouses at age nine. But it was his father-in-law who planted the recent business idea in his head. "He said, 'You know, I've seen people take these old windows and put mirrors in them,'" said Sukeforth, relating the off hand comment. At the time he was laid off after 22 years with Bath Iron Works. "I was just hanging around the house," he said, "so I thought it was a novel idea."

Today, Northern Lites Woodworking produces some 80 patterns of mirrors in the same small outbuilding that was once destined for storage. The couple figured mirrors were much more marketable than windows. Thus they're the primary focus today. But if you're looking for that traditional stained glass window for your stairwell, bathroom or outbuilding, they'll be glad to work with you.

The Sukeforths have made efficient use of the small workshop that sits next to their house. Downstairs Dale mills and assembles the frame pieces on a few stationary tools while Lisa applies the paint to the finished piece in a loft upstairs.

Northern Lites prides themselves in the fact they're members of the "Maine Made" program. "We try to keep everything top-notch quality," said Sukeforth. The stock selected for each frame is a type of Russian pine that is unusually clear and tight grained. And they didn't have to travel far to acquire it. Oddly enough, a large quantity of one-inch thick stock was purchased from Machino's lumber right here in New Gloucester. Sukeforth said there's a demand for this wood among door and window makers because it is so clear. "It's extremely difficult to get that kind of stock around here," he said.

At the start of things, Sukeforth acquired some old stained glass windows to see how they were constructed. He's duplicated the rail and style method of joinery for these frames on two shapers set up in the shop - one cuts the male profile, another mills the corresponding female contour. "I glue everything and use four-inch torx screws," he said. "They're never ever going to come apart."

The finished mirrors can weigh up to 13 pounds. At 30 inches square, the largest is called The Celestial and requires heavy mounting hardware. And Northern Lites doesn't skimp. The glass, which is a mirrored, reflective type of stained glass, gets backed with one-eighth inch plywood attached with stainless steel nails. A stout stainless steel cable provides the hanger. "I try to make them nice and rugged," says Sukeforth.

Nine colors of stained glass can be currently set in the 80 different design patterns. Most mirrors will include three different colors of glass. To view the options, go to www.northernliteswoodworking.com.

The Sukeforth's offer a unique product in today's world, and quality is foremost on their minds. In the beginning, Lisa said someone mentioned that these mirrors could be made overseas. "It's not going to happen," she countered. "This is the difference between something you'd find at Christmas Tree Shops and something truly made in Maine."