The Parlor

American parlors were decorative, rarely used, and were usually off limits to children. The space was generally used for entertaining guests, family weddings, and funerals.

The chairs, engravings, oil paintings, clock, and garnitures (decorative side mantel pieces) and small music box are all Cappon pieces dating to the 1870s and 1880s. The chairs and mirror above the fireplace have been attributed to the Berkey & Gay Furniture Company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Cappon & Bertsch Leather Company store in Grand Rapids was just one block away from the Berkey & Gay showrooms, making it a convenient place for the Cappons to shop. Berkey & Gay also sold the Cappons the carpet and drapery used in the parlor at the time of the homes building. A large electrolier (electric chandelier) hangs from a beautiful ceiling medallion in the center of the room and is original to the home. Before electricity was installed in the home, a kerosene chandelier hung in its place.

Careful research was done to return the room to its c. 1900 appearance. The carpet, wallpapers, and silk fabrics reproduce originals. The paint color for the molding that surrounds the ceiling was determined by paint analysis and recreates the 1900 paint color.

Many of the other items around the parlor are not original but are replicas or are similar to items found here in the year 1900.