house chair

Indianola Record Herald & Tribune
June 16, 1975

Mrs. Robert L. Hayworth tells the story of two antique armchairs, RHT photo

      One day last fall, Mrs. Robert L. Hayworth (Vera) approached my desk with a newspaper clipping in hand and told me of two antique armchairs in her possession. They seemed identical to one pictured and featured in an issue of the Des Moines Sunday Register. The antique walnut armchair in the newspaper photograph was believed to be one of the twenty-six purchased for the Iowa House of Representatives in the year 1839.
      In a a voice and manner which made me immediately aware of her appreciation and respect for the chairs of which she spoke, Mrs. Hayworth explained that she believed she had two rare treasures in the two similar chairs standing in her home at that very moment.
"Old Capitol" now a landmark on the campus at The State University of Iowa was the first capitol building constructed on a site in the early Iowa wilderness. The structure was used from 1842-1857 as an official capitol building, until the status of Iowa was changed from a territory to a state. Des Moines then became Iowa's capitol city and "Old Capitol" was given to The University of Iowa.
      In 1970, a movement came about to restore the structure as a museum for Iowa History. A research team, with Dr Margaret Keyes in charge, began the tremendous task of finding and assembling hundreds of items to refurnish Old Capitol with as many authentic pieces as possible.
      Dr Keyes began her search for at least one original House Chamber desk and chair to be used as models from which replicas could be made. One chair was found at a country auction and a photograph of it was published in the Des Moines newspaper.
     Mrs. Hayworth, upon reading of it that Sunday morning in October, recognized its
lines and pattern as being identical to the chairs which were hers.
     The Hayworth chairs were purchased about five years ago by Mrs. Hayworth's brother, Carl Ledet, who was an Elder of the Capitol Christian Church where the antique chairs had been used as altar chairs. The church was being remodeled and the furnishings were to be sold. Mrs. Hayworth asked her brother to acquire the chairs to be used as host's chairs in her dining room.
      Once she learned of the restoration project, Mrs. Hayworth felt obligated to restore the historical pieces to the state of Iowa. She immediately got in touch with Dr Keyes, who came to the Haworth home and established the authenticity of the armchairs. They were two from the original 25!
     Recently, a RHT photographer and I sallied forth to get the story and a picture for Marcie to mention. The Old Capitol legislator's chairs still remain in the Hayworth home. But one day soon a truck will come to retrieve and return them to the room where they belong. The armchairs will be re-caned and restored to look as they did in 1839. Replicas will be made to match the originals so that 26 chairs will stand in the restored House Chambers, just as they did in the early days of Iowa's history.

The Hayworth family is happy that the chairs they enjoyed for a little while will remain in "Old Capitol" to live on through time as a part of the past which belongs to us all; and as a legacy as well, for future generations of Iowans who will be proud and will honor the state and the history we call our own.

Des Moines Sunday Register, February 4, 2007

VERA HAWORTH, 84, died January 24, 2007, in Springfield, MO. Born in Denmark and raised near Elk Horn, she spent most of her life in Indianola. Services will be held March 10, 2007 at 10:30 AM at the Indianola Methodist Church.