Tell City Chair Co. Giant Boston Rocker History

          The history of the Tell City Chair Co. Giant Boston Rocker dates back to 1958, Tell City’s Centennial year.  Many hours of planning and labor were spent in the manufacturing of the giant size Boston rocker which was featured on the float entered in the “Decades of Time Parade” during the Centennial in which it won first place.  The rocker was completed May 30, 1958 after special made stencils needed to decorate the rocker arrived. 

          It was designed to double the size of the extremely popular Boston Rocker that the company produced.  Approximately 93 feet of lumber was used to build it.  It is seven feet tall with an overall width of four feet and weights 173 pounds.  The seat is 40” wide and 38” deep and is large enough to accommodate three men.

          The seat of a regular rocker is 15” high.  On this rocker the seat is 30” in height from the floor.

The back slat is nearly 12 inches wide and the legs are 3 ¼” in diameter.

          The chair was designed by George Connor and expert chair maker who had been an employee of the company for over 36 years in 1958.  He has been building samples for many years.

          Harry Powell also of the sample department had much to do with the construction.  He has been with the company for 44 years in 1958 and a sample maker for many years.  The posts were turned by Norman Freeman who has been with the company for 12 years in 1958 and is in charge of their turning department.  The three men had a total of 92 years total of service with the Tell City Chair Co.

          This is not the only Boston Rocker.  In all there were three made.  One of which was destroyed fraternity students that stole it from a furniture store in a police chase.  The other is located in the Tell City Historical Society Museum. 

          In 2008 during Tell City’s Sesquicentennial I (Chris Cail) borrowed the last remaining Giant Boston Rocker from the Tell City Chair Co. for William Tell Antiques & Collectibles float.  The rocker at that time was in serious need of repair.  After the sesquicentennial I approached Doug Fenn, President, of the Tell City Chair Co. and asked him if he was interested in selling the rocker to me.  A few months later Doug informed me that he would like to give everyone a chance to purchase the rocker so he listed it on E-Bay with a reserve price.  Doug said he had many inquires about the rocker, but I was the only bidder.  The price that was bid did not meet the reserve set by Doug.  I contacted Doug after the sale and few weeks later we had a meeting do discuss the possible sale.  We agreed on an undisclosed price.

          Once I had the rocker in my possession, I contacted Roy Stutsman and informed him of the condition and what I feel would be necessary to bring it back to it former glory.   He agreed and after several weeks of repair work it was totally restored to it original condition.

          The history of the rocker not only goes back to the history of the Tell City Chair Co. but my own family history.  My great uncle Harry Powell, was one of the workers who helped create the rocker back in 1958 for Tell City’s Centennial.