Our Anniversary Celebration

President Ed Eriksen with Grandson Levi listening as he makes opening remarks

Last week we celebrated 34 years of business at Manchester Wood.

A milestone we hold with great pride, but not as close as the individuals who have dedicated their time to its success.

Our celebration of years in service was highlighted by the recognition of our new 10-year and 20-year employees, an accomplishment and loyalty worth admiration.

Our President, Ed Eriksen, led the ceremony with stories of these highlighted employees, presenting gifts of thanks, stories, and roasting humor of memories past.

The first to be recognized were those beyond the years of the newly inducted.

Mike, Beverly, and Ed have been here since the inception, 34 years ago in Manchester, Vermont.

Carl, Tracy, Garnet, and Richard follow close behind with over 20 years of dedication. Accomplishments that were met with gratitude from fellow workers in the lunchroom festivities.

10-year employees L-R, Mark, Darcie, Ashley, and Laurie G.

Next up in the ceremony were our 10-year employees, Darcie, Mark, Ashley, and Laurie G. Memories were shared on their years in the business as Ed presented and acknowledged their service.

20-year employees pictured L-R, Virginia, Judy, and Jim

The spotlight now turned to our 20-year employees, with flowers on and wood block planes bearing their names, Virginia, Jim, Pat, Judy, Margaret, and Laurie joined a growing family of dedicated workers.

“There has been a lot of good times and challenging times, but it’s the dedication of all our employees that enable us to continue to move forward.” Mr. Eriksen explained.

Laughs shared during the roast, L-R, Jim, Pat, Margaret, and Laurie B.

After the stories and laughs, the ceremony came to a close, but a feeling remained throughout the day. There was a thankfulness that permeated around the office and plant, an overwhelming understanding of how far we’ve come as a company with much of our existence in tough economic times. The dedication of our workers is the catalyst for survival through the storms.

We continue to strive to make the finest solid wood furniture in America, we not only thank our employees, but you, our customers for your unwavering support.

It’s a thankful time in the history of Manchester Wood.

Shaker Furniture

A.J. Macdonald once commented Shaker furniture was originally designed in heaven and that the patterns had been transmitted to the Shaker people by angels. +

I can imagine that feeling Macdonald once had regarding early pilgrims of America started their new lives in a world open to possibility. This furniture line shows the religious order and simplicity of the time.

Shaker styled furniture has craft traditions rooted heavily in colonial New York and New England. Farmers, Mechanics, Small Tradesmen made up most of the consumer base for Shaker Furniture in early America. A humble, basic product, with a thoughtful development of design and craftsmanship is the essential character.

At Manchester Wood, our Shaker Collection touches on the history of its lineage in design adding contemporary appeal for the 21^st Century.

We hope you find the basic needs in life, especially in furniture, as much fun as we do!

+John Humphrey Noyes. History of American Socialisms, pp. 602-603.

Home Office

There is nothing too exciting for most to talk about when discussing the “Home Office.”

It has become a huge part of our existence though. A necessary step as we continue to grow with technology and work at a near constant. For better or worse.

Our Shaker Desk

As folks that do work at home from time to time, we understand how important the proper setting is for you.

From our Desks to Printer Carts, Bookcases and Stands for further space and inspiration; our items cover a great assortment of the essential fixtures.

Our Home Office Collection features Shaker and Mission furniture styles, a more natural and country accent allowing for a tranquil, peaceful setting in a sometimes hectic work mode.

All our products are solid wood with handcrafted quality at a reasonable price.

We hope this collection reminds you of what’s most important while giving you the proper tools for your ongoing masterpiece in life and work.

Our Console Bookcase

The Slate Valley

We recently visited The Slate Valley Museum in Granville, NY to further understand the fascinating history on one of the World’s richest slate deposits. The photos shown in this article, and much of the below information can be kindly found at the Museum. Please visit their website for more information.

His Grandfather is top row, 4th in from right, arm around friend (Courtesy of The Slate Valley Museum)

In preparing this article, one of Manchester Wood’s great friends and hardworking mechanics took a look at a picture from The Slate Valley Museum. It was a picture from the early 20^th century, dating back to the 20’s.

Upon looking it over, he cracked a smile and said:

“I don’t know if you’d believe me, but that’s my Grandfather right there.”

Drawing his finger down on the image, pointing in delight to a smiling young man.

Many peers and colleagues in our community work or once worked in the slate mines. We love the material they produce, not just for our products, but also for its countless other uses.

“The Slate Valley” as it’s called, is a region over twenty miles long and extends six miles wide along the New York/Vermont border from Granville, NY to Rupert, VT, and north to Fair Haven, VT.

In the early-to-mid 1800’s, slate was discovered in the area.

“The roof of a barn one mile south of Fair Haven was the first to be covered with slate in 1848. It was feared the barn would not withstand the weight of the stone. The barn is still standing today and the same slate roof is intact.” (The Slate Valley Museum Website)

Slate quarry strikes were riddling Wales, so in 1850, the first Welsh immigrants arrived. They came with experience in the art of mining. Slate companies began forming.

(Courtesy of The Slate Valley Museum)

The immigration of workers increased as the industry boomed through the early 1900’s.

From Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Italy, Ireland, Hungary, and later Canada. Hardworking families arrived from all over the World, seeking the abundance of American life.

We’re happy to have known some of them, and even prouder to have their lineage working under our roof.

At Manchester Wood, we’d like to thank The Slate Valley Museum and join them in “paying tribute to these workers and their families and to preserve their way of life and their many contributions to the fabric of human history.” (The Slate Valley Museum Website)

To view our Slate Top Collection (using locally mined slate), click here.

To visit or learn more about The Slate Valley Museum, click here.

(Courtesy of The Slate Valley Museum)