In 1987, Eddie Hartson started his millwork company in Chalmette, LA. In 1993, he bought out Architectural Wood Manufacturers in New Orleans which later evolved into Advanced Commercial Contracting, as well as Maggio Cabinets in 1996. His mill was on Arts Street in New Orleans and was a thriving business of 60+ employees. In 2004, a third of the plant burned to the ground in a 6-alarm fire. It was a devastating loss, but Eddie decided to rebuild in the same facility. Just 15 months later, after they had just moved back into the building, hurricane Katrina wiped out the mill with a massive flood. Many employees lost their homes and relocated, and some even came to live on the Northshore on Eddie’s property in FEMA trailers for quite some time. With only 14 employees left, the men of Advanced Commercial Contracting continued doing business out of the Hartson family’s home mill shop. Through tenacity and grit, ACC still created the most impeccable millwork, despite the circumstances. Over the years, Advanced Commercial Contracting would become Orleans Custom Millwork, and has occupied 2 other Northshore facilities. Now, permanently residing on Penn Mill Road in Covington, Orleans is one of the largest turn-key millwork operations in the southeast. We are so very proud of the men and women that continue to make Orleans the mill that it is today.