This is my granddaddy's chair.  For as long as I can remember, he sat in that chair preparing his sermons and watching Bama football, back when it was free to watch over the air.  I'm sure I crawled up in his lap, too, when I was a kid.  I remember like it was yesterday when, as a boy no older than 5 or 6, I'd sit on the front pew of the church enthusiastically saying "Amen, granddaddy!" He'd always smile back.  How could you not love a little Opie Taylor-looking redheaded grandson who so cutely affirmed your sermons? 

He was beloved by all, and I can't put into words how good a human being he was.  I was fortunate that my stepmom kicked me out of the house halfway through the 11th grade because I got to go live with my grandparents for a year and a half.  We became even closer during that time.

I'm sure you're wondering why she kicked me out.  Silly reason, really.  I was writing my sister a letter, and I mildly complained about my stepmother's annoying parents. Nothing vulgar or vicious, just teenage complaining.  I slipped the unfinished letter into the top drawer of my desk and went to my part time job that evening.  While I was gone, she rummaged through my drawers and found the letter.  My grandaddy called me at my work to tell me to go get my stuff and come over to their house.  All my cloths and belongings were in garbage bags on the front porch.  My dad didn't intervene, so I left.  I was actually happy to live somewhere else.  Of course, when I got my appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, she decided to allow me to return, but I didn't want to.  However, it was important to mend fences, so I moved back in the last couple of months before graduation.  My dad and stepmother were narcissists. 

Back to the chair.  When my granddaddy died, my aunt let us take things to remember him by.  I took his Montgomery Ward wood lathe, some hand tools, and this chair.  It was beige vinyl and worn, so I had it reupholstered.  My wife rocked both our children in that chair.  I watched TV in that chair, and when Bama football was on I, of course, thought of him.

One of the springs in the seat broke, and it became uncomfortable to sit in for any length of time.  I didn't know what to do with it, so it floated around my workshop for a couple of decades. I'd sit in it for a few minutes while looking at plans or instructions, but it wasn't a chair you could relax in.  Finally, today I decided to let it go.  I spent the morning breaking it down.  It became apparent that the level of upholstery skill that went into this chair was orders of magnitude more difficult than what I possessed, even though I reupholstered all the seats and cushions of a bowrider power boat and did an outstanding job.  So, good call on my part to just salvage what I could and make other things to remember him by.

I uncovered some vintage fabric under some pretty cool burlap material.  I'm going to frame the almond company burlap bag.  No plan for the other fabric yet.  Ideas are welcome.

The pile of springs left over lend themselves to some sort of canister Damascus.  Some ideas I'm kicking around are split crosses out of 1/2" stock or maybe letter openers.  Again, ideas are welcome!

 

 

Its an honor to have read your story. Thats a powerful memory, and one you will treasure forever. I'm glad there's plenty to be salvaged. I'm always amazed at how sentimental I've become in the last years; my dad is getting up in age and the Parkinson's leaves him unable to do a lot of what he used to. I'm sure you will treasure having that sack framed. My initial thought for the rest of the fabric to to upholster some small keepsake boxes on the inside with the fabric. Or you could make some nice hankies out of it, although that might be less sentimental. 

As for the springs, canister yes, but also you could forge weld a few together and make a wheat twist, perhaps make two into a cross or some other symbol. You might take a few and make a picture frame out of them, perhaps around a picture of your granddaddy, if you've got one of him in the chair, even better. 

Just my .02 here. 

Ridge, those are some great ideas!  I love the wheat twist cross!  My wife told me that the fabric I thought was very old and vintage was installed in the chair when I had it reupholstered years after his death.  The burlap bag art was there from the get-go, so I'll frame it.  I do have a copy of a photograph of my granddaddy and mam'aw sitting on the running board of his Model T (or whatever it was).  He was a scandalous 10 years older that she was.  At 28 and 18, even back then, Granny and Pawpaw Morris were skeptical.  But they were happily married for over 60 years. 

Edited April 8, 20251 yr by Mod30
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The heavier coil springs can be straightened and used for chasing/repousse tools.

So, is that you and your grandfather in your profile pic?

No, that's from the hit TV show of the early '70s, "Kung Fu."  Frosty is the master.  I am just grasshopper. 

Edited April 8, 20251 yr by Mod30
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