"The Hoosier will help me keep young."
Step inside any antique shop, and you will invariably find a Hoosier cabinet displaying an assortment of linen towels, glass jars, tinware, and baking pans. While this cabinet may or may not be for sale, the display evokes memories of a modern kitchen during the late 19th to early 20th century.
Loaded with labor and time-saving conveniences, the Hoosier cabinet was among the earliest design innovations of the modern American kitchen. This culinary workstation allowed women to maintain an efficient and clutter-free kitchen by centralizing utensils, cookware, tools, and ingredients while providing a space in which to prepare meals.
The Hoosier cabinet consists of three parts. The base section usually has one large
compartment with a slide-out shelf, several drawers to one side, and sits on small casters. The top portion is shallower and has several smaller compartments with doors. The top and the bottom are joined by a pair of metal channels, which serve as the guide for a sliding countertop.
Special glass jars were manufactured specifically to fit the cabinet and its racks. These consisted of coffee and tea canisters, a salt box, and 4, 6, or 8 spice jars. Some manufacturers also included a cracker jar.
The Hoosier was more than just a piece of furniture...it was an all-in-one workstation.
- Ample Storage: The cabinet provided space for food, utensils, and kitchen tools.
- Pull-Out Work Surface: The upper portion featured a flour bin and sifter, which made ingredients easy to access
- Spice and Condiment Racks: Many models came with labeled glass containers for storing commonly used spices.
- Sugar and Flour Bins: These were designed to prevent spills and reduce the need for excessive lifting.
- Integrated Cookbook Holder: A flip-up shelf to hold recipe books for easy reference.
- Bread Box and Sliding Shelves: These helped keep baked goods fresh and organized.
Houses of this period were not equipped with built-in cabinetry. The Hoosier adapted an existing furniture piece and, by rearranging the parts and taking advantage of the metal workings, was able to produce a well-organized, compact cabinet that suited the homemaker's needs for storage and working space.
Hoosier cabinets remained popular into the 1920s, but by that time, houses began to be constructed with more modern kitchens that included built-in cabinets and other fixtures.
In an era where women were expected to manage household duties efficiently, the Hoosier cabinet represented both progress and empowerment. It allowed them to spend less time in the kitchen, allowing time for leisure and other responsibilities.
As built-in kitchen cabinetry became popular, the popularity of the Hoosier cabinet declined. However, its legacy continues. Today, collectors seek out these cabinets, restore them as statement pieces in farmhouse-style kitchens, blending practicality with nostalgia.
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Ash “Shotgun” McCrae can never make up for all the wrong he’s done. After leaving a notorious outlaw gang, he thought he’d discovered the peaceful existence he’d been looking for when he found work laying tracks for the railroad in Rivers Bend. Yet, when trouble shows up in town, he fears he may never free himself from the burden of his past.Schoolteacher Kate Cummings stands as the one bright light in contrast to the curious looks and behind-the-glove whispers blowing through the town. The arrival of Padraic “Patch” Rooney and his gang challenges the small-town serenity she holds dear. Still, her steadfast trust in Ash awakens the strength of courage within them all, giving rise to the collective defiance against the approaching danger.
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