I wanted to draft this blog for three reasons. First, I first learned about hoosiers from my Uncle Tim. He restored one that had been painted and neglected on my dad’s family farm. My uncle’s work was incredible – a pretty amazing feat and the finished product is a restored beauty which I have found very inspirational (he used dentistry tools to help remove paint). Second, I thought the tag line “hoosier daddy” [sound it out] would be funny. Third, hoosiers are just practical and cool. They reduce steps and improve efficiency in the kitchen (where they are primarily used).
On the prairies in particular, hoosiers make so much sense. When farms were just popping up, hoosiers were a sort of a one stop kitchen shop where you can prepare meals along with storing baking ingredients and dishes.
I was blessed to find newspaper adverts for hoosiers in in Saint Awesome which surprised me a little.
The advert below indicated Amland Bros was the sole agent of Hoosiers in Saint John, NB.
I know the hoosier category is pretty broad and there are some experts out there who know the difference between all categories, i.e. the possum belly baking cabinets versus the enamel topped hossier that are more on my mind. It is important to also note that Hoosier is actually like saying Kleenex instead of tissue, or Aspirin instead of paracetamol. Hoosier is a brand name that is applied to these baking cabinets.
I am not an expert and there is a great Facebook group dedicated to hoosiers where kind and positive admins help educate us. I had no idea that there could be accompanying cabinets and tables and chairs [I am currently on the lookout for hoosier chairs – wish me luck]. I encourage you to join if interested – the group is very positive.
Here are some pics that have been published in the public domain.
Killer set below! the stencils and the deco details just move me.
Look at this kitchen set. All you need are the appliances and a sink, and you are good to go.
Look at the deco stencil details below.
Check out the ironing board on this one:
I am not blessed with some of the gems above but I do have a few hoosiers I would like to share.
This is my bathroom beauty hoosier. I use it daily. The enamel top is great for my makeup, and it stores all toiletries and towels.
From what I can tell the glass in mine is not original and instead there was likely a beveled mirror originally. Mine does not have the laundry hamper like I have seen in the images below (not mine).
Off of our kitchen we have this smaller deco hoosier that we use for tea and coffee and other storage.
Doesn’t my cabinet look a lot like this one?
Check out this other apartment sized hoosier with the related chimney cabinet.
Below is our hoosier sort of adjacent or aligned table. Stores cutlery and the enamel top is a great baking surface.
Picked up this hoosier for the basement. I know it is not a true antique but it is all metal and is perfect for holding all of my tools.
If you find yourself lucky to stumble upon a Hoosier, I strongly encourage you to see how you can use it in your home – I believe that hoosiers are relevant and useful even today.
Thanks for the shout out and the info on the many types of Hoosiers, it’s very interesting how many different styles there are.
Restoring them are a labor of love.
uncle Tim
You gave me a lifetime interest! Thank-you!
I have one. Brought it with me from Toronto. It is a cousin to the amland variety.
How lovely. I think Amland would have been a retailor but I am not sure which company they sold on behalf of.
I lucked into finally coming upon a Hoosier a couple of years ago in an old cottage. The mice had taken it over. I had admired them in magazines for years. I grew up in old houses on Douglas Avenue and my moms favourite store was Aaronoffs. I inherited her love for old homes and furniture. Like your uncle, I used dental tools and nutcracker picks to help with the refinishing. It had a coat of green over the original cream paint. The original cream was very difficult to remove due to its getting into tiny little spots. I continue to work away at it. Mine is like the one you showed with the ironing board…minus the ironing board. I would love info on joining the Facebook group.
I remember a hoosier cabinet at my grandmother’s kitchen in Westfield. Clearly I didn’t appreciate the functionality of it back then. There also was an old icebox’frig in the kitchen that went on for years and years. I don’t think the hoosier is around anymore but I can ask my cousin when we see him. Funny the things that one remembers from a young age.
what a memory, and ice boxes are also a fab thing to have and use!