The Guide • 5-18-22 McMarti & Be ins Crafting High Quality Furniture on the Eastern Shore By Kathi Ferguson When Jim McMartin founded the company, furniture was not his rst love. After running a successful boat building and restoration business in Annapolis, Jim and his wife Mary Kay decided to sail to Maine. “ inking we would continue boat building and living there,” says Jim, “we regrouped after a year and came back to Maryland.” Soon Jim found the work no longer satisfying and decided to focus on restoring antique furniture, honing his woodworking skills on high quality, hand-built items. His decision to focus on traditional period-style furniture ultimately led to moving his shop to St. Michaels in 1988. Several years later, enter Jim Beggins. Like the McMartins, a 1994 sailing trip brought e passion that Jim McMartin and Jim Beggins share for their craft is evident. Guided by the classic design of the Federal Period, this unassuming pair creates and restores some of the most beautiful custom-crafted furniture in the country, right here on the Eastern Shore. Jim and his wife Elizabeth from their home in Long Island to St. Michaels. Planning to “stay just a little while”, their plans changed when Jim decided to look for work at one of the area boatyards. “ e owner at the local hardware store told me that fella who worked for Jim McMartin had just quit,” says Beggins. From their rst handshake, the two developed an instant rapport. Beggins smiles. “If you can build wooden boats, Jim told me, you’ll gure the furniture out. I was hired on the spot.” In 1999, McMartin & Beggins formed a partnership. Working out of their current location in Wittman, Maryland, the two Jims have never looked back. Each brings unique talents to the business. “One
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