19th century James Butler furniture part of Penn's Woods exhibit

Renatta Signorini, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
·2 min read

Oct. 17—Two wooden pieces of furniture created by James Butler bear dates — 1875 and 1899.

Butler, who at the time lived on Spring Street in Ludwick before it became part of Greensburg, may have used the items in his home and had no intuition they'd be considered works of art more than 100 years later.

The two items, along with a pair of ornate wooden picture frames and a well-worn child's rocking chair, are on display in the Penn's Woods exhibit at

the Westmoreland Historical Society's education

center.

Society collections manager Joanna Moyar has a special connection with Butler — he is her great-grandfather.

Butler worked as a blacksmith and carriage maker at Harden's, Kepple's and Eisaman's shops in Greensburg.

The walnut table was made at Kepple's shop

on East Pittsburgh Street in 1875, according to a marking underneath the square top with a beveled edge.

The legs have designs carved in them, showing an artistic flair that carried over into the picture frames, which are adorned with decorative markings and four wooden leaves each.

Moyar was not sure if her great-grandfather sold the items he created.

"He learned a practical trade" in blacksmithing but he loved making wooden furniture, she said.

Aside from the decorative table and frames, the rocking chair and stool seem to be more functional pieces.

The simple stool with its four wooden legs was created in 1899, according to the carving on the underside that also bears Butler's name.

The child's rocking chair appears to have been painted a shade of purple at one point, but some of that paint has worn off.

The wooden arms, spindles and arm posts have numerous carvings, showing a keen attention to detail and craftsmanship.

Moyar said the pieces are works of art that may have served as a hobby but also a means to furnish a home, something others in a similar position may have undertaken around that time.

"They probably didn't have enough money so if they knew how to make it, (they did)." she said.

The Penn's Woods exhibit will run through Thanksgiving weekend.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta by email at rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter .