Antique Hoosier Cabinet Units!

Purchasing an antique Hoosier cabinet can be a great way to explore a significant part of history face-to-face. There was once a time where kitchens did not have anywhere close to the amount of appliances that make our lives so convenient. Stoves ran on either logs or coal powder, refrigeration units require regular changes of block ice, and a different pantry was required for specific items. On top of that, flour bins, and crates for the coal powder and wood took up plenty of room as well. During the early part of the twentieth century, urbanization was growing throughout America.

People began to move away from the Jeffersonian ideal of a country consisting of farmland, and instead, adopted city-based economies. As a result, housing demands were inversely proportional to living space; as the demand for housing increased, the average living space decreased. As a result, there was little to no space for boxes of coal powder, flour crates, separate pantries, and other cumbersome appliances. As a result, the Hoosier cabinet was implemented. It was a combination of everything you could possibly want in a kitchen, and helped to greatly save on space.

The Hoosier eventually became a common item that could be purchased through catalog. Hoosiers were filled to the brim with features. These included self-sifting flour bins of fifty-pound capacities, storage areas for utensils and cooking equipment, a work surface, pantry space, and enough cabinet space for most appliances, such as coffee grinders. Eventually, as popularity grew, the styles did too. While most were made from solid wood for durability and longevity, other models in different, more exotic materials came into the market. Of course, these exotic models are sparse today, and can come at a high price!

Despite their popularity and usefulness, Hoosier cabinets are considered a rarity today. Many people who enjoy reliving an early twentieth century lifestyle often have these cabinets at the top of their list of things to purchase. They were truly an all-around piece of kitchen equipment, and can still serve just as important of a purpose in your home today as they did back then. While you may not need a fifty-pound capacity flour box, they provide plenty of storage space for everything. Moreover, if functionality is not a big concern, their aesthetic alone can be a fantastic addition to the kitchen of any history lover. An antique Hoosier cabinet can still be found in a few antique shops, at auctions and even estate sales.

Hoosier cabinets are fantastic pieces of equipment to have in the kitchen. While they may have grown away from modern necessity, they can still be appreciated for both their aesthetic and functionality.  Antique china cabinets go really well with antique hoosier cabinet units.  Antique china cabinets preserve that same classic look, but are good for displaying your valuables regardless of the era they came from!