In 1986, we were chosen to build the JJ Moran & Sons Funeral Home in Decatur, Illinois.
Born and raised in rural West Central Illinois, we had access to standing red oak timber, which we harvested to make the interior trim package of the funeral home. We logged and transported the oak trees ourselves, helped the sawyer cut the logs into boards in Monticello, Illinois and trucked them to a kiln in Paris, Illinois for drying. All the woodwork in the new funeral home was custom milled in our woodworking shop and sent to the job site for installation. When the chapel furniture they had purchased arrived, it was a total miss match for the interior of their new facility. There was no one specifically custom building chapel furniture on a custom order basis. Based on our milling and woodworking abilities, we were contracted to supply chapel furniture that matched the new funeral home perfectly.
Classic Design was the first set of furniture that we designed. In 1987, we traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah and exhibited at our first National Convention. Jamestown Colonial was also introduced in 1987. In 1992, we created Provincial Design, followed by Queen Anne in 1997 and Prairie Craftsman in 2005.
By the end of 1994, our furniture business had grown sufficiently to be a stand alone business and we ceased contracting operations to devote ourselves exclusively to the funeral trade. With two years of drafting and design training, all the sets have been 100% created in house. There have been three patents issued for our furniture.
As the years have passed, we have listened to our customers wishes and needs and have evolved our line to fit the ever changing industry. We offer all five designs in oak, cherry, walnut and African Ribbon Mahogany woods. On oak and cherry, we have 23 stain colors from which to choose. Walnut and Mahogany are both dark colored woods, which dictate the end results. There are dozens of fabrics for kneelers.
Born and raised in rural West Central Illinois, we had access to standing red oak timber, which we harvested to make the interior trim package of the funeral home. We logged and transported the oak trees ourselves, helped the sawyer cut the logs into boards in Monticello, Illinois and trucked them to a kiln in Paris, Illinois for drying. All the woodwork in the new funeral home was custom milled in our woodworking shop and sent to the job site for installation. When the chapel furniture they had purchased arrived, it was a total miss match for the interior of their new facility. There was no one specifically custom building chapel furniture on a custom order basis. Based on our milling and woodworking abilities, we were contracted to supply chapel furniture that matched the new funeral home perfectly.
Classic Design was the first set of furniture that we designed. In 1987, we traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah and exhibited at our first National Convention. Jamestown Colonial was also introduced in 1987. In 1992, we created Provincial Design, followed by Queen Anne in 1997 and Prairie Craftsman in 2005.
By the end of 1994, our furniture business had grown sufficiently to be a stand alone business and we ceased contracting operations to devote ourselves exclusively to the funeral trade. With two years of drafting and design training, all the sets have been 100% created in house. There have been three patents issued for our furniture.
As the years have passed, we have listened to our customers wishes and needs and have evolved our line to fit the ever changing industry. We offer all five designs in oak, cherry, walnut and African Ribbon Mahogany woods. On oak and cherry, we have 23 stain colors from which to choose. Walnut and Mahogany are both dark colored woods, which dictate the end results. There are dozens of fabrics for kneelers.