1930's Chair

Roscoe's Chair

This chair was given to me by my cousin.

It was her maternal Grandfather's chair. 

My Dad was her Dad's brother so that Grandfather was not my Grandfather. (Did you get that?)

Anyway....I grew up in the same small town that her Grandfather lived in 

so he was very much a part of my life. 

His name was Roscoe Gilmore and he ran the local department store - "Gilmore's".

My Grandmother called it a dry goods store. 

Geez...I must have really grown up in the olden days to have shopped in a store called a dry goods store.

My home town, Blanchard, Oklahoma had a population of about 1,500 when I was growing up there.

Truly, a one stoplight town.

My Mom and sister, both still live in Blanchard.

Anyway, "Gilmore's" carried pretty much anything you needed. 

You could find women's clothes, shoes, fabric, lingerie, gloves, scarves, overalls, jeans, 

men's clothes, children's clothes, baby clothes, jewelry, watches, purses....everything.

At the back of the store was a small photo studio where Roscoe would take professional portraits.

Every Saturday there was a drawing.

Each week the invoice numbers from the week's sales were put into a hopper and a winning number would be drawn. 

I tell you....I grew up pretty much like the "Walton's". 

Which next to "Green Acres" was my least favorite show because it reminded me too much of my life.

Anyway....Roscoe also had a weekly column in the paper where he talked about whatever was 

important to him that week. It was called "Visiting with Roscoe" and at the end of his 

column...was always the list of that coming week's birthdays. 

How Roscoe kept track of everyone's birthdays in that town...I have no idea. 

It extended to people who'd moved away but whose family was still there.

I was always included on the birthday list no matter where I was living.

I don't know who reported all new births to him but we were all included on the list.

Roscoe passed away a couple of years ago after a very very long life and he continued his column 

in the paper up till just the last few years of his life. 

So, this chair was Roscoe's. 

His granddaughter, Shelly, my cousin has had the chair since he moved to a care facility. 

When she moved to a new home a couple of years ago...she just didn't have room for it.

And it's not her style at all. So she asked if I wanted it.

Well, it's totally the right vintage for my home and its super comfortable.

But it's so large and heavy that it got no further than the dining room.

Which is not where I thought it would be when I took it.

So here is my dilemma...

I think I could redo it and make it fabulous....but not sure I want it in my dining room.

My Mom wants it and she says it goes with her living room perfectly as is.

I think this is debatable. I think it needs to be recovered...no matter what.

What do you think? Can a big chair like that be ok in the corner of the dining room?

It may show up in my dining room photos.

My Mom is coming up today and she may take it.

We'll see...what happens....

I do love it....but I really wanted to keep the dining room open.

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Don't forget about my awesome giveaway from Shabby Apple!

You get to choose which dress.....

I'll choose a winner on April 15.

Just go to this post to enter.