My first education on Kittinger museum reproductions came when my wife and I honeymooned at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. We both enjoyed early American history, and discovered then that we would like to furnish our home in 18th century style furnishings. As a must buy item during that trip, we bought a 1975 Williamsburg Craft House catalog which I still have to this day, and reference occasionally. A used Biggs Furniture Company secretary was our first furniture purchase along with a Biggs catalog.

However, furniture purchases went on hold while we purchased a farm. Farm living was not meant as a career, since engineering at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center was my dream job, and my wife was a local high school math teacher.

After our 2nd daughter was born, furniture buying became a necessity, and the fun of Williamsburg and other museum reproduction furniture purchasing became an interesting hobby. Three daughters increased our room and furniture needs. A garage conversion provided expansive dining and sitting space.

During my wife's 5 year battle with cancer, we still maintained positive faith, and continued Williamsburg and other museum reprduction purchases. With the passing of my wife, I early retired, and home furnishing went on hold while I single parented for several years. When the girls were grown and moved out, it was time to remodel and repaint the house. Along with that project came the need to complete home furnishing in the elegance of 18th century.

Today our modest 3 bedroom brick colonial ranch farm house is filled with Williamsburg, Monticello, Winterthur and Charleston reproductions. It was in this last phase of furnishing that my daughter found Elmwood Company on line since Kittinger had gone out of business. Elmwood Company has been an inspiration in keeping the life of 18th century fine museum quality reproductions available. Kittinger craftsmanship will live on. My daughters have also acquired an interest in historical museum reproductions of Williamsburg and other fine furniture by Kittinger.

Furniture is history. History is people. I spend my days living with our nation's founding father's who once debated at Williamsburg, became presidents, and forged a new nation. What a daily inspiration it is to reflect on the vision and faith these men and women had, and to live with the furniture they lived with.

Dick D.