News - American Heritage – Page 34

Above all, avoid rushing. "Is that Shaker style?" we are asked this question every now and then when we present our rocking chairs. Not exactly, but similar. What exactly is Shaker design? This is best understood by looking a little into the history of the Shakers. The Shakers formed in the 18th century in England around Ann Lee from a splinter group of the Quakers. The Shakers became known for their whirling and shaking during religious experiences. Often met with hostility because of her behavior, Ann Lee emigrated to America in 1774 with eight people and founded the first Shaker...

Legend has it that Benjamin Franklin had runners under his chair in 1787, making him the inventor of the rocking chair. Since the beginning of the 18th century, additional runners have been increasingly attached to chairs to make sitting more comfortable. Over time, rocking chairs in all styles have been made from a wide variety of materials. President Kennedy helped the rocking chair to gain further popularity when he brought the first such piece of furniture into the White House in 1961. The chair from the famous Oval Office can still be seen today in the John F. Kennedy Library...

Have you ever tried making an American pumpkin pie? We give you helpful tips on how to make your pumpkin pie a success.

"What is the typical American style of housing?" I am often asked. There is only one answer: "There is no such thing as a typical style of housing!" American houses not only reflect the time in which they were built, but are also influenced by the origins of the settlers in the various regions. The first settlers lived very simply, as without important resources it was often a matter of pure survival. For over two centuries until around 1780, buildings were built in the initially very simple and purist colonial style, which as time went on also featured expansive wooden...