Sometimes an idea hits you like a splash of cold water. Other times, it has to percolate a bit. I think the idea to celebrate the heritage of a 19th century Vermont furniture maker by recreating its classic rocking chair was somewhere in the middle of that scale.
I was speaking with Georgia Brehm, Director of the Black River Academy Museum here in Ludlow about a month ago. She was coordinating an upcoming exhibit to celebrate L.G. Fullam & Sons, a company that thrived in this region over 100 years ago, around the turn of the 20th century. This company, which had very humble beginnings, grew from a father-and-son operation in an old blacksmith shop to a 30-person manufacturing company that turned out 150 to 200 chairs per day—and that was before the invention of many of the power tools we use today.
The Black River Academy Museum celebrates the heritage of the Okemo Valley region. In addition to exhibits, the museum presents classes to teach timeless crafts like basketry and chair caning. The Fullam exhibit, entitled “What the Rocker Knows” will treat visitors to the artistry of Leighton G. Fullam’s sought-after rocking chairs, which fetched a fairly high price at the time and were shipped all around the country.
We were trying to determine how to do more than just display chairs. Then, a thought started to rise somewhere in my brain. It reached my mouth before I gave it much consideration: “We can invite people to build their own recreation of a Fullam rocker in my shop,” I announced.
Georgia was excited. As for me, the idea of letting others craft furniture in my workshop had hovered in my mind many times, but there was never enough incentive to act on it. Because I respect the simple artistry and craftsmanship of the Fullam rocking chair, I had a sufficient nudge.
As soon as I sort out the details, I’ll let you know more about this weekend workshop at ClearLake Furniture!
