New exhibit focuses on Fayette County furniture
Amanda Steen | Herald-Standard
Jo Lofted, secretary of the Fayette County Historical Society, takes a look at a Walnut Dutch Cupboard dated from the 1760s, which is known to be the oldest piece of furniture that was made in Fayette County.
Chris Buckelew, on left, President of the Fayette County Historical Society, and Jo Lofstead, on right, Secretary of the Fayette County Historical Society, are pictured with the second oldest piece of furniture known to have been made in Fayette County.
This chair, pictured at the Abel Colley Tavern and Museum belonged to Hugh Graham who built Mt. Washington Tavern.
At one time, Fayette County was not just a place to sell furniture but where craftsmen made their own stylish and unique pieces.
“Each piece is an individual, certainly not mass produced,” commented Jo Loftstead, secretary of the Fayette County Historical Society which is featuring local furniture in the latest installment of its “Made in Fayette” continuing series of exhibitions.
“Made in Fayette: It’s Furniture” opens Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m in conjunction with the National Road Festival at the Abel Colley Tavern and Museum, located on Route 40 in Menallen Township about a mile from Searights Tollhouse. Admission is adults, $5, members, $3; and under 12, free.
After the festival, the exhibition, which runs through June 21, will be open Thursdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment by calling 724-439-4422 or by sending an email to fayettehistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
“Made in Fayette: It’s Furniture”‘ includes about two dozen pieces from the 1760s to 1860s that were created by cabinet makers from throughout Fayette County. Styles of the period included Queen Anne, Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton. This was furniture used in everyday life: simple but smart-looking and made to last.
For example, Loftstead is loaning an 1850s-60s cradle that belonged to the Darrell Family in German Township and has rocked many generations of children to sleep.
“It’s so beautifully made and it shows so much love and detail,” said Loftstead. “It has rocked so many babies in our lifetime and, hopefully, the next generation will use it.”
Another highlight is a 1760s walnut Dutch cupboard with rare, rat-tail hinges that society president Christine Buckelew said, “We believe to be the earliest piece of furniture known to be made in Fayette County.”
According to society officials, the cupboard and a Windsor chair (1810-20), which are part of the Mick Gallis Memorial Collection, are better known for their owner, Hugh Graham, an Irish immigrant who settled in Menallen Township and built Mount Washington Tavern in Farmington and an addition to Albert Gallatin’s Springhill Township home, now a national park known as Friendship Hill National Historic Site. Both are on display along with a photograph of Graham in the chair.
“We love having them here. It’s almost like they’re home since (Graham’s) homestead was two miles up the road,” said Buckelew. “Mick had told us how he acquired it. This walnut furniture takes four strong men to carry.”
There are also pieces from places that are well known in local history.
The Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh is loaning an nightstand from the Isaac Meason House in Dunbar Township. Meason was an ironmaster who was the richest man in the county in 1799 and built a beautiful Georgian mansion at Mount Braddock that remains an historic landmark.
“We have six chairs from the old White Swan when the White Swan was a tavern on the National Road during the era of the 1850s and ’60s,” said Buckelew.
“That’s very special because we tell the story of the National Road at (Searights) tollhouse and here.”
And there are a slant-front desk and a drop-leaf table from the home of Thomas Gaddis in North Union Township, an 1830s desk from the old West Schoolhouse in Uniontown, and a tall Chippendale high chest, circa 1790, that came from Friendship Hill and is of the time period coincides with Gallatin’s presence there.
Other pieces include a candle stand circa 1820 from Merrittstown; an 1850s blanket chest from Uniontown; a grandfather’s clock from 1810-20 from Brownsville as well as an 1820 grandfather’s clock from Connellsville; a 1790s Chippendale chest from Uniontown and a circa 1820 cherry corner cupboard from Smithfield.
The show will also include a display of furniture-making tools, such as a jigsaw circa 1890; as well as a model of the 1770s-built Beeson House that formerly stood on Uniontown’s Beeson Avenue.
In addition, Tom Buckelew, chairman of the museum committee, will display miniatures of furniture of the period.
Officials hope the show will develop another appreciation for the creativity and industry that came out of Fayette County.
“Our museum wants to deliver a positive message,” said Buckelew. “We want to show people how special Fayette County was and is.”