It’s business as usual for the many loyal customers of Americana Frame custom frame shop on Fremont Street. But behind the scenes, change is afoot: accomplished custom framer and neighborhood resident Baer Charlton will take over the shop March 16, along with his wife and partner Diane Charlton.
Americana Frame has a long history in Beaumont-Wilshire. Sharlene (“Shar”) Stacy opened Americana Frame in Beaumont-Wilshire in 1978. The custom frame shop has been a fixture in the neighborhood at its current location for 28 years. The new owners also have a long history here: many in the neighborhood already know Baer, an award-winning Custom Picture Framer (CPF) who has worked at Americana Frame for years, and Diane, who grew up in Beaumont-Wilshire and resides with Baer in her childhood home. Additionally, the Charltons have an impressive history of volunteer service to the neighborhood—as former co-editors of this newsletter, vocal contributors at general meetings and active participants in a variety of BWNA activities, including newsletter delivery, with Diane serving as a distribution captain.
Though he has 48 years of framing experience, Mr. Charlton has never owned a shop until now. “I didn’t want to be tied down.” Now, he says, “I live six blocks away and can’t imagine living elsewhere!” Over the years, Mr. Charlton has framed countless pictures, sometimes using only hand tools. He’s also framed some rather unusual objects, including a Porsche that had been cut in half lengthwise, WWII paraphernalia, umbilical cords, and a taxidermal mouse named Socrates. “People don’t just bring pictures here,” said Mr. Charlton. “They don’t just want a frame to put on the wall. They have a story and they bring it here. They want us to help them tell their story better.”
Mr. Charlton started framing when he was 12 years old. “It just felt natural [to use my hands],” said Mr. Charlton, whose mother was also an artist. The shop uses both hand tools and modern tools. For example, they join with a foot stomper, not a pneumatic gun and cut their frames with a foot-stomp chopper.
The Charltons already know many of the customers, some of whom have been coming to the shop for over 30 years. Many have left the neighborhood but still come back for their picture framing needs. “We get stuff from around the country, from people who have known Shar forever,” said Mr. Charlton. “We even have customers in Russia who used to live in Beaumont-Wilshire…they still send things.” Americana Frame will continue to serve its eclectic mix of patrons from the same location at 4223 NE Fremont Street. For shop hours and contact information, visit www.americanaframe.com.