Lincoln Log--Children's Chairs in Fulton, Illinois

I came across an entry in Nancy Kolk's "Glimpses of Fulton" blog about children's willow wicker chairs made in Fulton and sold to tourists going to the Chicago World Fair in 1933.

Booths were set up by the Lincoln Highway Bridge where travelers stopped to pay toll. This was a great way to earn money during a depression. Not only was there a market, but there were also lots of willow trees along the banks of the Mississippi and nearby islands.

Carl Senkel came to Fulton in 1930 and taught locals how to make the chairs. Willows were cut into pieces with an old tobacco cutter and nailed together.

Archie Cowan had a small willow chair factory in the 300 block of 19th Avenue that operated until 1933. Henry Musk started letting the willow dry for two weeks.

The chairs sold for 35 cents to 75 cents depending upon if they were rustic, varnished, or painted. Some were even rockers. Try to buy one for that price today!!

Musk sold them at the toll booth for two years and these chairs were continuing production until 1987. An estimated 3000 were made. In 1987, the price had risen to $10.

Nancy has quite a few entries. Others of interest to roadies would be the Pointer Brewery in Clinton, Iowa, Ronald Reagan's great grandparents buried in Fulton, and the 1905 Patent Novelty Company in Fulton.

Definitely worth a look.

http://glimpsefulton.blogspot.com

Keep on Down that Lincoln Highway. --RoadDog