George and Ava Lee Celebrate 50 Years
In November of 1968, I married George, a farmer with woodworking interests. Our first year was spent in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. A veneer factory, that gave away their scraps of veneer, provided material for making baskets and lampshades. George walked the forests looking for interesting shapes of wood for making live edge lamp bases.
A year later, back in Pennsylvania, George worked in a sawmill. In his spare time, George cut his own trees, drying the lumber and making crosscut stools and log benches.
In 1970, he made his first piece of furniture, a high chair for daughter, Juanita. He built a portable building for a showroom and moved it to a prime tourist area in Lancaster for the summertime. He sold hand-turned lamps, stools and nameplates, made while the customer waited.
As the family grew, he made side chairs and later a table. Remembering his experience of tipping over his Mother’s rocking chair, he proceeded to design one that would doesn’t tip over. I recall his excitement when he came home that day and said, “I know that God guided my hand when I designed that rocking chair”.
So a hobby transformed into a business. He found talented employees and the news of quality furniture spread across the country. Loyal customers continued to share their love for furniture. Looking back at the steps we took and the opportunities that came our way, our engagement motto couldn’t be more true, “Looking unto Jesus, We Follow”.