Furniture with history

Southern Living, Oct 2002 by Hamilton, Majella Chube

Heirloom furnishings in the home of Fred and Martha Williams reflect both family and community.

It's not every day that one happens upon a residence with interiors fit for a museum. Upon entering the home of Fred and Martha Williams in Selma, Alabama, I know I have found just that.

Here, the antique furnishings of Fred's collection stand proud and tall. Displayed with stately character, dignity, and respect, the pieces of mixed woods, fabrics, and periods take on a special life, giving a glimpse of how things might have been for families at the turn of the 20th century.

Well known in Central Alabama for his family's legacy of successful businesses, Fred started collecting antique furnishings and china before it was the trend. "As in many homes in our area, my whole family has always had nice furniture. I just got involved with old things. It's a disease. The more you find, the more you appreciate, and the more you want.

"The bedroom suite in our front guestroom came from one of Selma's oldest black families, the Boyds, who were personal friends. When the last Boyd passed away, I had the chance to buy the set, which is made of cherry wood with inlaid detailing and pink marble," he explains.

Family photographs and memorabilia line the restored 19th-century home's hallways and elaborate tabletops. The 10-foot-tall ceilings and original pine floors of the refurbished home, set in the city's Old Town district, create an appropriate backdrop for this extensive collection. The surroundings evoke memories of simplicity, warmth, comfort, and grandeur.

As he leads me around, Fred shares his knowledge of period pieces like a passionate storyteller, recounting local history. "The chairs next to the washstand came from the Clark family, relatives who lived in West Selma. Their house was brought here from a town called Cahawba, the second capital of Alabama. The square table with mirror was also in the Clark family for more than 100 years. I just inherited this piece a couple months ago. It was willed to me by their last surviving heir because she knew it would be cherished."

Fred also reflects on the history of the community. "The people who left me these furnishings were close to me, close family and friends. Collectively, these pieces represent a glimpse of Selma's common history.

"Martha admires our collection, but it's not her bag at all. That's my little world," Fred admits, "My family knows how much I enjoy it, but everyone tells me not to bring another piece of furniture or anything into our house."

Maybe The Smithsonian should take a look.