Gary and Karen Stuffel of Washington, Indiana
Gary and Karen Stuffel loved the country life, and both loved the dream of living with early American antiques. Born in Daviess County, Indiana, they chose to settle in Washington where Gary worked as a union carpenter and Karen as a Postmaster for the Edwardsport post office, and then later the Montgomery post office. Their love extended to a project of acquiring a log home originally built in Illinois in the 1850s and moving it to Indiana where they rebuilt it log by log in rural Daviess County. There they raised their two children and expanded their collection and dream.
Gary and Karen’s weekends were filled with traveling to antique shows, shops, auctions and touring the countryside looking for that special piece peeking out of someone’s garage to acquire for their collection.
Throughout their thirty years of marriage their collection included early Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania painted furniture, stoneware and folk art. Their enthusiasm for the fine craftsmanship, creativity, and quality led them to collect local pieces, focusing on Logootee, Upton Stuckey and Trinity Springs pottery, blue and mustard yellow-painted furniture, as well as pieces of unusual and interesting design.
Information courtesy of Garth’s Auctioneers & Appraisers, August 2008.