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One of the hallmarks of the Victorian Era was its elaborately ornate, highly embellished furniture, which was sometimes intended more for decoration than function. It was quite a contrast when, with the dawning of the twentieth century, the Craftsman period arose, based on the principle that furniture should be as useful as it is attractive, and built to withstand everyday wear and tear. One of the most outstanding representatives of that time, and that tenet, is the Adirondack Chair. Unfortunately for its inventor, Thomas Lee, the chair also turned out to be a painful example of what can happen when greed supersedes friendship. Mr. Lee and his family frequently vacationed at a summer home that they owned, in Westport, New York, beside Lake Champlain. In 1903, when he and his wife wanted outdoor furniture for the garden, Thomas Lee decided that he would build it. He did not undertake this project half-heartedly. Indeed, he was determined to craft fine, comfortable, and durable furniture, in which he and his family could take great pride and pleasure. He fashioned several chairs from boards that he put together in various designs, and asked his family to test each one for comfort. The final product was constructed from eleven boards that he had cut from a single piece of wood. To achieve ultimate comfort on the uneven terrain of the Adirondack Mountains, he gave the chair wide armrests, a deep, angled seat, and a back that inclined 30 degrees. This chair was a huge hit, not only with the Lee family, but with a friend, Harry Bunnell, who hunted with Thomas, and ran a small carpentry shop. Needing a way to make some money during the winter, Harry suggested that he could produce these chairs for sale, and asked for the plans, which Mr. Lee gladly lent to him. This arrangement worked out perfectly – for Harry Bunnell, who, in 1905, patented the design as his own, calling it the Westport Chair. That chair, which is now known as the Adirondack chair, has been the sweetheart of outdoor furniture pieces all over the country for more than one hundred years. There have, however, been many variations on Thomas Lee’s drawings, as some of the chairs have straight backs, while others are curved, some have thin armrests, and some have been designed as rocking chairs, gliders, and benches. They are also built from many other materials besides the hemlock and basswood that were used to construct the first models, which were available only in brown or green. CedarStore.com has a huge assortment of gorgeous Adirondack Chairs, made from decay-resistant Western Red Cedar, Northern White Cedar, pressure treated pine, cherry, teak, and oak. It also features spectacular polywood Adirondack chairs, available in several attractive colors, that are virtually indestructible. At CedarStore.com, you’ll also find an incredible selection of outdoor dining, bar, and bistro tables and sets, picnic tables, accent tables, garden benches, porch swings, gliders, lounges, rocking chairs, and ottomans, in designs from rustic, to refined. For more information, call 888-293-2339, or e-mail contact@cedarstore.com. CedarStore.com has everything you need to furnish your porch, patio, gazebo, deck, or backyard, including many variations of the beloved Adirondack Chair. They may not have invented it, but, as you will see, they have perfected it.