Sentimental Sunday: Combination Desk and Book Case

The combination desk and book case pictured above was once sold in Sandusky at Sandusky's Big Store. It was made of solid oak, and sold for $12.50 to $42.00, according an ad which appeared in the September 18, 1905 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal. Each side had wooden shelves, and a window made of curved glass was on the door of each book shelf. In the center was a pull down desk, with storage for pens, envelopes and stationery inside, under the mirror.

A piece of furniture very similar to this one sat in the living room of the home of the Paul Orshoski family from the mid 1960's to the mid 1980's. Though it is no longer in the family, I will never forget the night that Dad brought it home. He found this item it the attic of a home where he was working. The owner said that if he could manage to get it moved, he could have it at no cost. When the furniture arrived at our home in Bay View, it was covered in dust. We kids told Dad that it looked like it belonged to "The Addams Family," a television show that was popular at the time. Well, after Mom cleaned it up, and polished it, and washed the windows, it was an absolutely beautiful piece of furniture! Mom always referred to it as the China Cabinet, and she put her best dishes and glasses in it. We all cherished it for many years.  Imagine my delight when I ran into this old advertisement on microfilm, while I was searching for something else! You can see our old china cabinet in the picture below, along with several members of the extended Orshoski family at family gathering.