Crowell Upholstery

  

  (508) 295-6199

Our Heritage

My father, with his two first cousins, opened a custom upholstery shop in New Haven, Ct. in 1930 after years of in shop training with Eureka Upholstering in Brockton Massachusetts. Having seven employees that stayed with him for 40 plus years gave me the knowledge and skills in the trade of upholstering. Vinnie Hyde was one of them and who stayed with me for another 15 years. Vinnie "could do anything" as my father always said.

Also I'd like to mention Joe Enos of East Providence RI who was a master at custom upholstering for over 40 years, leaving the business to his son and retiring in Onset. He came and worked with me for five years to keep busy part time and help me out.

I have taken all they taught me to an higher level with very modern tools, supplies, and machines to produce a quality job that not only looks attractive but will give outstanding service as well.

Most upholsterers try to compete with new furniture and this can not be done. They have a large overhead, employees, etc. and find they have to cut corners so much to make ends meet trying to compete with new furniture. I have a low overhead working from my home, and years of experience to make the job go easier and faster allowing my prices to be competitive.

I can do any kind of work from a simple repair job to a complete restoration of a wooden frame and finish. If needed I can repair carving, replace missing pieces, add bracing if needed and, either touch up or restore the wood finish while working with all modern adhesives and finishes to ensure a job that is durable and attractive. Or the traditional method if requested.

I've reupholstered pieces once owned by President Roosevelt, Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), and Gustav Stickley. Jim Crowell

Some of the piece's we've restored date from back as far as the 1700’s and were beat up from years of bad upholsterers, amateur repair men, handymen etc. and I have restored them to a solid, usable condition.

I always enjoyed the challenge of the upholstery trade and have mastered all aspects of it. Including Leather, Tufting, and Down cushions from scratch.

I enjoy doing all other types of upholstering as well. Small jobs to large ones. Porch furniture, family room sets, window seat cushions, etc.

Things Have Changed

This add below is from the 1929 depression years. My father lost his shop they built and had to move into the cellar of his home to keep going. 3 piece set for $27.50 is way out

I found this ad crumpled inside a seat of a chair to fill a hole that an very old women did to get by. It's from the Boston Paper and Jordan Marsh's store. This is for a "New" Chair. 1932 still depression era.

This ad was my fathers from the early 1950's... how things changed again. He was out of his cellar in a different shop now on the main road.

This is my first ad after I moved to my beloved Wareham area. I was working out of an old house and stable on Carver Road in W. Wareham for the first year. Year was 1979.

Next ad below is when I moved to 192 Onset Avenue (now part of Mark Antony's). I was there for 5 years or so. Couldn't park anywhere or load the truck without danger but it worked for me.

My next ad below is when I moved to Ocean Ave Onset in front of my home. I tore open an old cottage and rebuilt it into a small but comfortable shop.