Many thanks to our friends at Johnson Machine Works (Chariton) and Williams Machine Shop (Lacona) for their parts in restoring this classic iron bench that returned to its place of honor at the Lucas County Historical Society Museum Thursday afternoon. We're happy to have it home.
Historical Society board member Steve Bright took charge of the restoration project, Lee Lowe coordinated its stay at Johnson Machine Works where at least a century of crusty white paint and considerable rust were gently removed, and Troy Williams at Williams Machine Shop applied the new powder coating.
Steve and Lee returned the bench to the museum on Thursday. It is extremely heavy; two men can just manage it.
Steve explained that the bench is cast iron, rather than wrought, which increases its fragility --- and there's been quite a bit of damage to it over the years. One small piece is missing and you can see the breaks and repairs if you look carefully, but it remains an impressive piece of garden furniture.
The bench came to the museum during 2004 as a gift from Gloria L. Garton, widow of Dr. J. Glenn Garton. We're not sure where it originated, but Dr. Garton and his first wife, Irene (who died in 1974 and was the historical society's first curator), were avid collectors of antiques. Ron Christensen made repairs to the bench at that time.
A little online research identifies the pattern as "Fern and Blackberry" --- the ferns are obvious, the clusters of berries are scattered about in small squares --- and traces it originally to 1858 and the Coalbrookdale Forge in Shropshire. Our version probably dates from the late 19th century, but we've no idea of its point of origin --- just grateful that its ready to face another century.
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