| One of the hallmarks of the Victorian Era was its | | | | money during the winter, Harry suggested that he |
| elaborately ornate, highly embellished furniture, | | | | could produce these chairs for sale, and asked for |
| which was sometimes intended more for | | | | the plans, which Mr. Lee gladly lent to him. This |
| decoration than function. It was quite a contrast | | | | arrangement worked out perfectly - for Harry |
| when, with the dawning of the twentieth century, | | | | Bunnell, who, in 1905, patented the design as his |
| the Craftsman period arose, based on the | | | | own, calling it the Westport Chair. That chair, |
| principle that furniture should be as useful as it is | | | | which is now known as the Adirondack chair, has |
| attractive, and built to withstand everyday wear | | | | been the sweetheart of outdoor furniture pieces |
| and tear. One of the most outstanding | | | | all over the country for more than one hundred |
| representatives of that time, and that tenet, is | | | | years. There have, however, been many |
| the Adirondack Chair. Unfortunately for its | | | | variations on Thomas Lee's drawings, as some of |
| inventor, Thomas Lee, the chair also turned out | | | | the chairs have straight backs, while others are |
| to be a painful example of what can happen when | | | | curved, some have thin armrests, and some have |
| greed supersedes friendship. Mr. Lee and his family | | | | been designed as rocking chairs, gliders, and |
| frequently vacationed at a summer home that | | | | benches. They are also built from many other |
| they owned, in Westport, New York, beside Lake | | | | materials besides the hemlock and basswood that |
| Champlain. In 1903, when he and his wife wanted | | | | were used to construct the first models, which |
| outdoor furniture for the garden, Thomas Lee | | | | were available only in brown or green. has a huge |
| decided that he would build it. He did not | | | | assortment of gorgeous Adirondack Chairs, made |
| undertake this project half-heartedly. Indeed, he | | | | from decay-resistant Western Red Cedar, |
| was determined to craft fine, comfortable, and | | | | Northern White Cedar, pressure treated pine, |
| durable furniture, in which he and his family could | | | | cherry, teak, and oak. It also features spectacular |
| take great pride and pleasure. He fashioned | | | | polywood Adirondack chairs, available in several |
| several chairs from boards that he put together | | | | attractive colors, that are virtually indestructible. |
| in various designs, and asked his family to test | | | | At CedarStore.com, you'll also find an incredible |
| each one for comfort. The final product was | | | | selection of outdoor dining, bar, and bistro tables |
| constructed from eleven boards that he had cut | | | | and sets, picnic tables, accent tables, garden |
| from a single piece of wood. To achieve ultimate | | | | benches, porch swings, gliders, lounges, rocking |
| comfort on the uneven terrain of the Adirondack | | | | chairs, and ottomans, in designs from rustic, to |
| Mountains, he gave the chair wide armrests, a | | | | refined. For more information, call 888-293-2339, |
| deep, angled seat, and a back that inclined 30 | | | | or e-mail has everything you need to furnish your |
| degrees. This chair was a huge hit, not only with | | | | porch, patio, gazebo, deck, or backyard, including |
| the Lee family, but with a friend, Harry Bunnell, | | | | many variations of the beloved Adirondack Chair. |
| who hunted with Thomas, and ran a small | | | | They may not have invented it, but, as you will |
| carpentry shop. Needing a way to make some | | | | see, they have perfected it. |