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The History of the Hoosier Cabinet and Where to Find Them Today

© Barbara Nicholson Bell

The Hoosier cabinet, an early-1900s model of efficient design, has become a highly sought-after antique.

The History of the Kitchen and the Hoosier Cabinet

Prior to the 1930s, kitchen storage involved things like separate pantries, a Welsh cupboard or hutch, and a woodbox or coal bin. But as the general population moved from the country to the city, into small bungalows and cottages without servants' quarters, the kitchen became much smaller.

"Scientific" design for improved sanitation, and the popularity of a separate dining room, meant storage and work space was at a premium. Responding to this trend, the Hoosier Manufacturing Company was founded in 1898, in Indiana, with the clever idea of taking a standard baker's cabinet or cupboard and turning it into a model of efficiency and compact design.

The "hoosier" became extraordinarily popular. They could be purchased from the Sears catalog or other merchants and delivered by railroad. Originally made from sturdy oak or pine, the Hoosier contained a great deal of storage in a compact 6 feet. Later versions were enameled and stood on legs, like the four-legged enameled stoves and sinks of the 1920's.

The Evolution of the Hoosier Cabinet

The Hoosier-style cabinet included, variously, an upper section with bins for flour, sugar, and other dry staples. The flour bin could hold 50 pounds and had a built-in sifter. A pull-out work surface doubled as a cutting board. Drawers for utensils, and shelves for dishes, glassware or mixing bowls, perhaps a coffee-bean grinder or bread bin, could be found behind the doors and cabinet front. Some had spice racks, or even ant traps.

Wood cabinets were plain but built with an eye for quality and longevity. They were a transition between the old Welsh cupboard or hutch and the later enamel and porcelain kitchens. Later versions complemented the sanitary look of other kitchen equipment. To enlarge their market, many manufacturers began offering matching sets of storage containers, in glass, Jadeite, enamel and pottery. Nowadays, those containers fetch a good price.

The Hoosier Cabinet Today

Many folks remodeling Victorian and early 20th century homes look for authentic kitchen furnishings. Along with converted coal stoves, old gas ranges, and farmer's sinks, they look for the classic Hoosier cabinet. These can still be found at antique shows and shops, especially in the Midwest and Texas, but they are becoming more rare and expensive. You can now even find replacement parts, hardware, and accessories at a number of websites, such as Furniture Knowledge, Kennedy Hardware, and The Hoosierman.