Happy New Year to those of you that still enjoy following this blog of mine. I thought I would make the first (real) post of the New Year be about the past. Naturally, as a vintage related blog, all my posts involve the past somehow, but this one is extra special to me.
Back in October of 2022, I drove down to Prescott, AZ to help my Mom pack up and move. She was moving back to Kenosha, WI as Arizona no longer provided her with the happiness she once loved. I met up with my sister and we were later joined by my brother and nephew.
While diving into the treasure trove of goodies my mother had and spending time with my family, I noticed a table that my Mom had that I had never seen before. It was a side table with an art deco design. I absolutely fell in love with it and asked if I could have it. I was told no, she was keeping it and it was a "Hannahs table" (Hannahs being the family name). Drats, I thought! My Mom was not about to give up this beautiful table and that was understandable, it was a family heirloom obviously passed down to her. As we were packing up over the course of a few days, I heard her mention that a couple of other tables were "Hannahs tables". I didn't realize my Grandpa passed on so many family heirlooms! Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos of these great tables to share with everyone.
It was on the last day that I was packing up some old artwork and posters that I came across an old ad out of a magazine, for of all things - Hannahs Furniture Co. Did I just learn something new about my family? This whole time when she was saying it was a Hannahs Table and I thought she meant simply a family heirloom, but it was actually a table manufactured by our family!?
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| Not the ad my Mom has. |
I do not know how I wasn't privy to the fact that my great grandfather was the president of "Hannahs Furniture Co.", which was manufacturing tables and (home) library furniture from 1910 to 1938. It was in 1933 that my Great Grandfather took over the company from his Dad and bought out all other partners.
However the history of "Hannahs Furniture Co." started long before that. Prior to 1882, my Great Great Grandfather (and his business partner) started "Hannahs and Jackson" making tables in chairs. After a fire in In 1882, "Hannahs and Jackson" incorporated as the "Kenosha Crib Company" (Kenosha, WI being the home of all of the businesses). Then in 1910 company changed its name to "Hannahs Manufacturing Company", moving away from children’s furniture and into high quality library furniture and tables.
That is the very brief history I have been able to find online about "the family business". Let's move on to the table I now own!
After I returned home to Las Vegas, I immediately started to research what I could about "Hannahs Furniture Co." I came across a "Hannahs Furniture Co." table on eBay and had to snatch it up! I had to have at least 1 "family heirloom"! While this table isn't as lovey as the one my Mom has, I am still quite happy to have it. The top inlays remind me of bats -- I love bats! I set up the table as quickly as I could once I received it because I was just so excited to have it. It currently holds my record player and some knick knacks... which reminds me, I need to clean it off a bit!
I have enjoyed having this table in my home and just this past October while visiting my Mom for her Birthday in Kenosha, I saw that my sister owns this exact same table as well! She got hers after I got mine and she didn't even know I had this table! Can you believe it?!
Here are some other "Hannahs Furniture Co." tables that have found their ways into other peoples homes.
(Found these photos on Google.)Historic photos of the Hannahs Manufacturing Companies.
Thank you for reading! I look forward to adding more Hannahs "family heirlooms" to my home!
Fun Fact! Apparently, "Hannahs Furniture Co." produced a pinball machine in 1937! To get my hands on THAT!
