Souvenirs from life
As we officially enter the "ber" months (September, October, November, and December), we bid farewell to warmer weather and welcome the cozy charm of autumn and the joy of holiday traditions. Traditions are the heart of the season. Built over years of shared moments, they are shaped by the people we love, festive decorations, and cherished family recipes. This is where your heirlooms truly come to life. More than just decorative elements or functional pieces of furniture, they serve as the backdrop to your everyday life and holiday gatherings. Surrounded by special moments and shared stories, these crafted pieces transcend and become enduring members of your family's legacy.
What is an Heirloom?
An heirloom is a meaningful item passed down through generations. Heirlooms transcend age and monetary value; they serve as anchors that connect us to our family history.
Heirlooms connect us to our roots. They serve as physical reminders of the people, stories, and moments that shaped our families. Unfortunately, for decades, many traditional pieces have vanished from households due to shifting design trends, high shipping costs, or simple wear and tear. Luckily, a growing appreciation for craftsmanship and warm spaces has sparked a strong resurgence in heirloom-quality furniture.
If your family doesn't have existing heirlooms, there’s no time like the present. Search for well-made, durable pieces that can withstand decades of use. You’d be surprised how many beautiful pieces you can find at local sales, estate sales, auctions, and barn sales. There’s really no limit to where quality pieces will show up. It can also create a wonderful memory for the family if everyone is involved.
On the other hand, if you’re lucky enough to own an heirloom already, don’t forget to document it for the next generation. An item loses its historical context without a story. Keep a journal detailing who owned it, when it was acquired and the memories attached. Don’t forget to maintain the piece through proper care and routine maintenance or professional restoration. It will keep your piece functional and desirable for the next generation. Depending on the type of piece you own, it’s a great idea to combine other physical objects of value with the piece. Such as, family recipes, photos, and family history records to give future generations a complete picture of their lineage.
To discover true heirlooms for your family, exploring historical American furniture styles is a great place to start. Modern furniture rarely prioritizes quality and longevity. Even high-end brands rely on particleboard frames wrapped in thin wood veneers. Expertly crafted solid wood furniture still does exist, but it's rare, very expensive, and inaccessible to most. That’s what makes local auctions, barn sales, and estate sales so invaluable. They offer the opportunity to rescue well-crafted antique furniture and give it a second life as a cherished family heirloom.
Popular Furniture Eras
American furniture from the 17th century to present day showcases a diverse blend of styles and techniques.
Early Colonial & Pilgrim (1620 - 1700)
This is the earliest surviving English-style furniture crafted in North America. These pieces relied on medieval European woodworking techniques that were modified in the new colonies. They’re often heavy and rectangular in form. Native hardwoods like American white oak were used for the framing, and pine, cedar, and maple were used for panels, drawer bottoms, seats, and turned components. Surfaces often featured shallow decorative carvings and were stained and painted with colors like red, black, and blue.
Late Colonial (1720 - 1780)
This is a golden age for American furniture making. As wealth grew, furniture shifted from heavy boxy forms to elegant and graceful curves. This era had two overlapping styles: Queen Anne and Chippendale. Queen Anne furniture emphasized delicate proportions with curves, and the overall feel was lightweight. Straight lines were swapped for arched pediments and bonnet tops. The preferred woods were native walnut, cherry, maple, and imported mahogany. Chippendale furniture was named after the English cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale. This style evolved from Queen Anne but on a grander scale and with more ornamentation. Mahogany was the desired choice for wood because it allowed woodworkers to carve intricate details into the wood.
Federal & American Empire (1780 - 1840)
Federal style furniture emerged following the American Revolution. It rejected the ornate Chippendale style associated with British rule. Federal featured straight tapered legs, delicate inlays, and patriotic motifs like carved eagles and stars. The primary woods were mahogany, satinwood, and native woods like cherry and curly maple. American Empire had a bolder, heavier style inspired by French Empire design. These pieces became noticeably larger with heavy structure. Classical columns, dramatic wood grains, lion feet, and animal carvings were common features. Accents were also enhanced by gilded metal mounts, gold leafing, brass and bronze stenciling to contrast the beautiful mahogany wood.
Shaker & Pennsylvania Dutch (1780 - 1890)
Shaker style furniture was based on extreme simplicity. This era rejected ornate carvings and veneers in mainstream American furniture. It originated from the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (known as Shakers). Carvings and flourishes were viewed as prideful and unnecessary. This furniture style relied on dovetail joints, mortise and tenon construction, and turned wooden pegs. Common woods used were pine, cherry, maple, birch, and chestnut. Pennsylvania Dutch was Germanic folk furniture crafted by German-speaking immigrants who settled in rural Pennsylvania. Wood surfaces were rarely left plain. Colorful folk designs were painted on with colors like deep greens, blues, black, and brick red. They were also built from native woods like white pine, walnut, oak, and cherry wood.
Victorian & Arts and Crafts (1840 - 1915)
Victorian furniture reflected the Industrial Revolution, middle-class wealth, and mass manufacturing. Black walnut, dark mahogany, rosewood, and quarter-sawn oak were the dominant choices for furniture. Steam-powered woodworking tools and laminated woods allowed complex designs to be mass-produced. The style was intricate, with lots of scrollwork and marble tops along with plush upholstery. Arts and Crafts was a direct reaction to the mass production of the Victorian era. This movement celebrated handmade work over factory production. It favored simple design and exposed joinery over flourishes. Quarter-sawn white oak was heavily favored because of its strength and grain pattern. The entire movement was about honest craftsmanship; Mission and craftsmen style furniture was born from this movement.
American Art Deco (1920 - 1939)
Early American Art Deco started exclusively for custom buyers. As time went on, mass production took over. The Great Depression forced the furniture industry to adapt, and custom built pieces were no longer viable for the general market. American Art Deco evolved into two styles: Streamline modern and Waterfall. Streamline was inspired by trains, ocean liners, and aircraft. Waterfall (probably the most desired and well-known) became the most popular bedroom and dining style in middle-class America. American black walnut was the first choice in wood; other woods included maple, oak, cherry, and birch.
Mid Century Modern (1945 - 1970)
Emerging after World War ll, Mid Century Modern (MCM) furniture was driven by postwar optimism, suburban housing, and uncluttered functional living spaces. The style is celebrated for its clean, minimalist profiles and organic sweeping curves. Decades later, MCM furniture remains highly sought after. Its timeless aesthetic, craftsmanship, and practical design integrate into contemporary modern living with ease. Designers combined postwar materials like molded plywood, fiberglass, and tubular steel with warm woods like walnut, teak, rosewood, and oak. Heavy traditional hardware was replaced with cutout handles, recessed wooden pulls, and flush cabinet doors. The goal was sleek profiles to give rooms an airy and spacious feel.
Let the treasure hunting begin!
If you’ve made it this far, I hope I’ve inspired you to consider the pieces you currently own that could serve as family heirlooms. If you’re just getting started, I hope I’ve provided you with a basic understanding of American furniture and the various styles from different eras.
Remember to always...
1. Check construction: look for dovetail joints, solid wood construction, and traditional craftsmanship details.
2. Look for markings: look for stamped dates; check the backside and under drawers for maker's marks or labels. These can help determine how old the piece is and where it came from. That can add to sentimental value if it came from an area you or relatives have lived in. The more history you know about the piece the more special it becomes, so research is just as fun as finding the piece itself.
3. Determine the condition: Look for any structural damage, cracks, or loose joints. Some of these things are superficial and can be easily fixed; it depends on how much you want to take on and how much you love the piece. Keep in mind that light wear is very normal for antiques; it’s just a matter of cleaning them up and maintaining them.
Recipes
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup chocolate chips
Combine sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla; then add the dry ingredients, oatmeal and chocolate chips. Drop tablespoon size clumps onto cookie sheet and bake at 375° degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until done.
Cinnamon Cookies
2 cups sugar
1 - 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups flour
1/2 cup nuts (pecans or walnuts)
1/2 teaspoon salt
Combine sugar eggs and sift flour, salt and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients and stir in nuts. Bake at 350° degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until done.
Pumpkin & Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1 teaspoon milk
l cup semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup nuts (pecan or walnut)
Combine the pumpkin, sugar, oil and egg. Sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add to the pumpkin mixture along with the dissolved baking soda and mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop spoonfuls onto lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375° degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until done. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.
Stuffed Sugar Pumpkin
1 (3 to 4 lb) sugar pumpkin
1 lb ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs (slightly beaten)
I teaspoon dry mustard
1 cup cooked rice or macaroni
1 medium onion (chopped)
3/4 teaspoon pepper
Cut the lid out of the pumpkin. Remove seeds. Prick inside cavity with a fork. Rub inside with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard. Lightly brown onion and ground beef. Combine with eggs, rice, pepper and the remaining salt and mustard. Stuff pumpkin with mixture. Replace pumpkin lid. Place pumpkin in a shallow pan with 1/2 cup water (add more water occasionally) Bake at 350° degrees for
1 - 1/2 hours or until pumpkin is tender. Cut into 6 slices.
Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie
2 large eggs
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups of pumpkin puree
12 oz can evaporated milk
Mix together and put into an unbaked pie shell. Bake at 425° degrees for 15 minutes, then lower temp to 350° degrees and bake for 45 - 50 minutes or until done.
Fall Garden Tips
It’s September, but there’s still time to enjoy a quick harvest from cool crops in the garden. Leafy greens like spinach, leaf lettuce (stick to loose-leaf varieties, not head-forming varieties), arugula, kale, and swiss chard do wonderful directly sown into the ground.
Garlic is a great and easy crop, but planting takes place in late autumn (typically October to November) depending on your location. Use this time to order your garlic and get your space ready for planting. Garlic overwinters underground and is harvested the following summer. The goal is to plant 2 - 4 weeks after the first fall frost, but before the ground freezes solid. You want the cloves to develop a root system underground without sending too much energy to the green shoots above ground before winter sets in. Garlic prefers full sun and loose, well-drained soil. On planting day, separate the garlic head into individual cloves. Leave the papery skin and save the largest, healthiest cloves for planting. Don’t forget to apply a heavy layer of mulch immediately after planting to help with the Midwest deep freezes. Best mulches to use are clean straw (not hay), shredded leaves, and clean pine needles.
One of the most rewarding garden projects is planting spring flowering bulbs in the Fall. The bulbs require a period of winter dormancy to trigger blooming. Wait till nighttime temperatures are consistently between 40 and 50 degrees, or about 6 - 8 weeks before the ground freezes. Avoid planting bulbs in straight lines or single rows. Instead, dig wide trenches and plant bulbs in informal groups for a natural display. There are so many spring bulbs to choose from, and it will be a welcome sight after a long winter.
"Never ignore your roots, your home, or your hair."
- Dolly Parton
Comments