You saw this rocker in yesterday's post. It's not just any chair; no, it's a Troutman Rocker! Made for 80+ years in Troutman, NC (formerly by the family of the same name) these chairs are touted as the "world's best rocker" in their ads. They also bill themselves as "purveyors of rocking chair therapy", if you've never sat in one I can assure you that you're missing out on something special. They are wonderfully comfortable and completely relaxing. They are fixtures on front porches everywhere around here and especially at our Lutheran church camps; the Troutman family has deep-rooted Lutheran history. Our daughter first became acquainted with Troutman Rockers
at camp when she was a eight years old and spent her first week away from home in the mountains of North Carolina. Even today the young campers still love to scramble for a chair on the dining hall porch before meals! Over the years, as our daughter grew, these chairs came to literally symbolize camp; for her, a happy, peaceful refuge. Throughout her college years she was a counselor and, ultimately, on Senior Staff at the same camp. She's spent many an hour rocking on a Troutman Chair. A couple of years ago she made a grade level change in her teaching career. After six years of teaching fourth grade she moved to second
grade and asked for a chair from her Dad and me for her birthday, a rocking chair, specifically a Troutman Rocker. She wanted a red one for her classroom! We quickly learned that they don't come in red, but they are available unfinished. Her Dad painted one up for her, just as she'd requested. It served her and her students well during story time at school every day. And now, it's made it's way to the nursery. She looked at upholstered gliders and decided against them. She knew what she wanted, what she needed, a red rocker for her first baby's room. She didn't want just any rocking chair, either; but one that represents a lifetime of happy memories, peaceful solitude, and the love of learning. She wants to rock her baby in her Troutman Rocker.Life is Good!
16 comments:
Wow, that was a wonderful story! She is blessed to have such a wonderful mom and dad. You need a link to where these amazing rockers can be purchased!
I love how you are sharing your treasured family traditions with us... LOVE that red rocking chair!!!
And that's how Traditions are born! What a wonderful story to hand down to generations - lucky Baby!
I love rockers, but have never sat in a Troutman rocker--that I know of, anyway.
And I love that it's red! There will be a lot of sweet memories made in that chair!
What a wonderful story, thanks for sharing. There was a president who loved a rocker that looked like that, I wonder if it was a Troutman rocker? Seems like it was JFK. I just googled it, and it was JFK, but the chair was made by a company P&P Chair company. I like your red one better.
What a great story . . . and a wonderful rocker to be passed on from generation to generation.
Do you know if that is the kind of rocker on the porch at Shatley Springs? I have always loved to go there, for the food but I always want to get there early to sit and rock and listen to the music...
What a great picture of your daughter. I just know she is a wonderful teacher!! I'm sure by now she is soooooo ready to be a MOM..VBS
I just have to tell you how lucky I am to have somehow found your blog! Your musings are wonderful and I find comfort in reading them. Somehow I feel I have known you somehere in my past! How wonderful that you await your grand child. I know the thrill since I become a "Meme" again just this past April when I welcomed my grandson Jaxon to the world! God is good
I think that was the best post you have made!!! It made me choke up a little bit because of how life happends....how your daughters life came back to something so special! I think it will be a wonderful family hand-me-down....for your grandson. Again, thanks for the post...it really made me smile!!!
Kariann
I love how those rockers look all lined up on southern porches. Even the airport in Charlotte! Your story makes them even sweeter!
Lovely post!
A beautiful post! I love rocking chairs, too, but have never heard of Troutman. The red rocker is so pretty! She will spend many happy hours in that chair and make even more wonderful memories!
Rocking chairs are just the best. I have one (not a Troutman, tho) that has been handed down in the family. O, BTW, I have given you an award. You can read about it on my blog.
I find your blog via Paula, The Quilter's blog. Read through the last several posts and so enjoyed see the preparations for your grandson. I guess we are kinda neighbors - I am in SC.
The rocker goods very comfortable. I remember my grandmother's rocking me and singing to me when I was small. It's one of my treasured memories of her.
I laughed when I read that the rocking chair was in the nursery. Many years ago, when my first child was born, I insisted that I would not be able to have a baby without a rocking chair. My husband thought that strange but it just seemed to me one had to rock a baby to sleep. I got my rocking chair but found out that what goes in other homes doesn't go so well in a Japanese home. The rocking chair left marks on the mat and the room was so small I rocked into the walls and made holes (remember paper walls). My kids didn't get rocked in that chair very much and I'm not sure where it ended up.
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