If any business could be considered a real-life version of The Little Engine That Could, Hitchcock Chair Company in Riverton would be that business. Centuries before modern box stores were making long-lasting furniture with some assembly required, Hitchcock Chair Company was manufacturing chair pieces that would become heirlooms that would be passed down through the generations.

The original Hitchcock Chair Company got its start in 1818 by Lambert Hitchcock. It was housed in the Benham-Doolittle sawmill located at Farmington and Still Rivers in Barkhamsted. All that is left of the original building is only rocks and rubble.
The Hitchcock Chair Company/Facebook
Full pieces of furniture were soon being produced. They weren't known just for their durability.
Hitchcock Chair Company soon became known all over the east coast. The company soon went from manufacturing chair pieces to making full pieces of furniture. Each piece was known for the beautiful hand-stenciled detail.
The Hitchcock Chair Company/Facebook
By 1826, 100 workers were producing and hand-painting 50 chairs each day. Each was marked with the insignia, "L. Hitchcock. Hitchcocksville, Conn. Warranted"
The original Hitchcock Chair Company went through many names and ownership changes between the time it declared bankruptcy in 1829 until the mill closed shop as a chair company in 1864. It merged with Alford & Co. in 1834. In 1844, Lambert Hitchcock cut ties with the company he had started and opened a small cabinet shop that he ran until his death in 1852.
Richard English/Google

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The Hitchcock Chair Company had a second chance in 1946 when John Kenney became fascinated by the story of Lambert Hitchcock and reopened the company. By the mid-1950s and '60s, the Hitchcock Chair Company was again known for the best in New England quality.
The Hitchcock Chair Company/Facebook
From the 1970s through the early 2000s, the Hitchcock Chair Company again struggled to stay afloat. It was sold again and again until it closed its doors in 2006.
The Hitchcock Chair Company/Facebook
In 2010, the stencils, name, and plans were bought by Rick Swanson and Gary Hath. Like everyone else who loves Hitchcock chairs, they appreciated the design and handcrafted quality and craftsmanship that can't be found anywhere else.
For the last 11 years, Hitchcock Chair Company has not only reopened, but it has also expanded. While new designs and vibrant modern pieces are created daily, you will find the original charm, detail, and craftsmanship that went into each of the original chairs. The second location, the Wilton Design Showroom, is dedicated to the vintage Hitchcock style and to refurbishing vintage and antique pieces for customers from all over.
The Hitchcock Chair Company/Facebook
What makes Hitchcock chairs so special is the time and care that goes into each piece of furniture. Each painted chair, table, or mirror is a unique art piece with timeless and useful beauty.
Hitchcock Chair Company/Facebook

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Hitchcock Chair Co, 2 School St, Riverton, CT 06065, USA