John & Alma Chambers' Homes in Shelbyville
Dec 17, 2014 11:33:12 GMT -5
ronruble, lkeriegirl, and 1 more like this
Post by Chuckie on Dec 17, 2014 11:33:12 GMT -5
I was recently in contact w/a seller on eBay--urateup is user name. Her actual name is Karen Dickmann (nee Bruner)--who lives in Shelbyville, IN! When I saw that, I contacted her via eBay to ask her if she knew anything about Chambers--i.e. production numbers, etc. Here is her response: "Hello TJ....SO nice to hear from you! Living here in Shelbyville IN, home of the Chambers stove, we are quite familiar with these beauties! However, we are not familiar with any production numbers, nor do we know anyone (still living) who worked there".
She went on to say: "Here's nice story for you! Our family actually acquired the 2 Chamber's family homes, (side by side) approx 20 years ago....which belonged to the founder, John Chambers and his daughter, Alma Chambers. Alma was a world traveler, who also performed their Cooking Shows/demonstrations. Rod's Mom (89) currently lives in Alma's home, and Rod's son and family live next door, in John's home."
She went on to mention Todd's website & Todd White: "Not sure if you've came across it yet, but there is an awesome "Chambers Lovers" website (link below) I know you'll want to visit!! We've corresponded in great lengths with the webmaster, Todd White, and provided him with quite a few old Chambers photographs which can be found in his "Scrapbook", (located in the Yellow Navigation column on the left side of the home page), which reflect "Photos property of Karen Bruner", which was my maiden name. My new last name....same as the current owners' last names (my husbands family) is Dickmann." I responded and mentioned THIS website as well, and gave her the link to it.
She then emailed me personally some photos of the two places: "Hello again....please accept my apologies for the delay in responding! I was hoping (and trying) to locate the best shots of the Chambers homes from our pictures (from summertime, with flowers, etc), but been kinda busy (with Christmas, etc), and only found one's from the spring (before flowers)..... I've attached 5 in this message (max allowed per message), and will send a few more in a second message. The blue home was Johns, and has a garage/carriage house in back. We've added an apartment upstairs. I'll also include a few pictures from inside John's....awesome 'built-in's' and light fixtures! The beige home was Alma's....and outback is a unique, small brick structure. One side is a green house, the other side is storage. In front of it is a beautiful concrete 'pond' with fountains! It looks gorgeous when surrounded by flowers!"
She also included this permission: "And yes, by all means, feel free to share/post the pics and story".
First off, I too want to give FULL CREDIT to whom the photos belong--Karen (Bruner) Dickmann, who was kind enough to allow me to post both her response AND said photos to the website!
The first one is John Chamber's home:
Rather modest but EXTREMELY nice IMHO. Here's another front/rear exterior shot:
Again, Mr. Chambers seemed to be practical in his home as well as in his Chambers stove, as I don't think this is in any way over-the-top for what he COULD of possibly afforded. Here are a coupla interior shots--BEAUTIFUL built-ins & light fixtures!!
A closeup of one of the light fixtures (appears to be the one in John's house by built ins):
Another chandelier:
And John's place STILL has a Model B in it!!
Now comes Alma's home:
Here is the greenhouse/storage place:
Don't know if ANY of this interest anybody, but thought I'd post it for "posterity's sake". Chipperhiker, if you want to make a separate folder or post of its own, feel free to do with it as you wish. I just thought it all very interesting, and also VERY NICE of Ms. Dickmann to let me post her knowledge of the Chambers family & home pictures!!
CHEERS!
Chuckie
She went on to say: "Here's nice story for you! Our family actually acquired the 2 Chamber's family homes, (side by side) approx 20 years ago....which belonged to the founder, John Chambers and his daughter, Alma Chambers. Alma was a world traveler, who also performed their Cooking Shows/demonstrations. Rod's Mom (89) currently lives in Alma's home, and Rod's son and family live next door, in John's home."
She went on to mention Todd's website & Todd White: "Not sure if you've came across it yet, but there is an awesome "Chambers Lovers" website (link below) I know you'll want to visit!! We've corresponded in great lengths with the webmaster, Todd White, and provided him with quite a few old Chambers photographs which can be found in his "Scrapbook", (located in the Yellow Navigation column on the left side of the home page), which reflect "Photos property of Karen Bruner", which was my maiden name. My new last name....same as the current owners' last names (my husbands family) is Dickmann." I responded and mentioned THIS website as well, and gave her the link to it.
She then emailed me personally some photos of the two places: "Hello again....please accept my apologies for the delay in responding! I was hoping (and trying) to locate the best shots of the Chambers homes from our pictures (from summertime, with flowers, etc), but been kinda busy (with Christmas, etc), and only found one's from the spring (before flowers)..... I've attached 5 in this message (max allowed per message), and will send a few more in a second message. The blue home was Johns, and has a garage/carriage house in back. We've added an apartment upstairs. I'll also include a few pictures from inside John's....awesome 'built-in's' and light fixtures! The beige home was Alma's....and outback is a unique, small brick structure. One side is a green house, the other side is storage. In front of it is a beautiful concrete 'pond' with fountains! It looks gorgeous when surrounded by flowers!"
She also included this permission: "And yes, by all means, feel free to share/post the pics and story".
First off, I too want to give FULL CREDIT to whom the photos belong--Karen (Bruner) Dickmann, who was kind enough to allow me to post both her response AND said photos to the website!
The first one is John Chamber's home:
Rather modest but EXTREMELY nice IMHO. Here's another front/rear exterior shot:
Again, Mr. Chambers seemed to be practical in his home as well as in his Chambers stove, as I don't think this is in any way over-the-top for what he COULD of possibly afforded. Here are a coupla interior shots--BEAUTIFUL built-ins & light fixtures!!
A closeup of one of the light fixtures (appears to be the one in John's house by built ins):
Another chandelier:
And John's place STILL has a Model B in it!!
Now comes Alma's home:
Here is the greenhouse/storage place:
Don't know if ANY of this interest anybody, but thought I'd post it for "posterity's sake". Chipperhiker, if you want to make a separate folder or post of its own, feel free to do with it as you wish. I just thought it all very interesting, and also VERY NICE of Ms. Dickmann to let me post her knowledge of the Chambers family & home pictures!!
CHEERS!
Chuckie