A Legacy Forged in Fire: Passing the Torch at Maine Wood Heat and Maine Oven Craft
After more than four decades of shaping warmth into art and family into a legacy, Cheryl Barden—an original co-founder of Maine Wood Heat—steps back from ownership, entrusting full leadership to her son, Scott, who has carried the company’s operational leadership for the past 20 years. As Maine Wood Heat transitions fully into its next evolution as Maine Oven Craft, the passing of the torch is both a personal milestone and a bold moment of transformation for a brand that has become synonymous with artisan wood-fired ovens.
From its humble beginnings in a Maine barn to installations in fine restaurants, bakeries, and luxury homes across North America, Cheryl’s steady hand has guided the business with grace, grit, and a deep reverence for the old-world craft of live-fire cooking. Together with her first husband, Albie Barden, Cheryl helped establish Maine Wood Heat as a pioneering force in the North American masonry heater and wood-fired oven space.
Now, as the brand steps into a new chapter under Scott’s leadership, it brings with it the soul of French Terre Blanche clay, the artistry of generational craftsmanship, and a sharpened vision to position Maine Oven Craft as the premier builder of handcrafted wood-fired ovens in Maine, USA.
“This has never been just a business to me,” said Cheryl Barden. “It’s been a calling—and a love letter to both fire and family. Watching Scott take everything we’ve built and turn it into something even more refined, more resonant, and more beautiful has been the greatest honor of my life.”
Scott Barden has spent the two decades not only learning the craft from the inside out, but also reimagining what a modern luxury oven brand can look like. Under his stewardship, the company has refined its visual identity, expanded custom design capabilities through Maine Metal Craft, and deepened its relationship with French oven core partner Le Panyol, whose Terre Blanche clay is used in every oven.
“My mother helped build this company with her hands, her heart, and a vision for how fire can bring people together,” said Scott. “What I’m building now with Maine Oven Craft isn’t a departure from that, it’s a continuation. We’re elevating the brand, honoring the craft, and making sure that every oven we build isn’t just functional—it’s unforgettable”
The transition also marks a renewed focus on creating immersive experiences through live-fire cooking. Whether for private estates, luxury restaurants, or mobile culinary startups, each MOC oven is designed to be the emotional centerpiece of a gathering—a legacy you can cook with.
In recent months, the brand has unveiled a redesigned website, intimate customer stories, and new visual campaigns that celebrate not just what they build—but what they make possible.
Because when the product is this good, the experience tells the story.
About Maine Oven Craft
Maine Oven Craft is a second-generation, family-owned maker of artisan wood-fired ovens handcrafted in Maine and powered by French Terre Blanche clay. Built at the intersection of performance and design, every oven is a testament to the soul of culinary fire, timeless craftsmanship, and a commitment to creating unforgettable gathering spaces. Whether residential, commercial, or mobile, Maine Oven Craft builds ovens that are meant to be used—and remembered.
