Jennings Furniture & Design Celebrates 140 Years of Legacy and Style St. Thomas’s own Jennings Furniture & Design is celebra- ting a truly rare milestone in 2025, 140 years in business. That distinction not only makes it a cornerstone of the the community but also earns it the title of the second-oldest furniture store in Canada. For Renée Carpenter, the store’s current owner, the anniversary is a source of both pride and perspective. “I think it’s really a big honour to have something old, still established and going,” she says. “There’re not many businesses around in Canada or North America that have this legacy that they can continue to build on and grow with.” The Jennings story begins when W.B. Jennings and a business partner from the Goodwin family, opened a cabinetry and coffin- making business at the corner of Hinks and Talbot. That unusual pairing was common in the era, as many furniture makers also crafted coffins, and even offered embalming services. “We have a room downstairs that supposedly was the embalming room,” Renée notes. “But after receiving a body by train that had been on it for three days, they decided embalming wasn’t for them.” Eventually, Jennings and Goodwin parted ways, each establishing their own furniture stores just blocks apart. Since 1885, four generations of the Jennings family owned and often lived above the business, producing handcrafted wood furniture while navigating world wars, the Great Depression, and more than one pandemic. In February 2009, Renée became the steward of that legacy. “I had worked with the previous owners for about three years before they decided to sell,” she explains. Her background in print media and
growing up in a builder’s family helped her bring a new vision to the company. “I knew I needed to differentiate myself, so I added the design element and rebranded as Jennings Furniture & Design.”
From our family to yours
2025 Summer Concert Series The Old St. Thomas Church
JULY 2 Triple SSS 9 John Milles 16 The Garage Guys 23 Barclay Road Brassworks 30 Ian Masson AUGUST 6 Rural Roots 13 Railway City Wind Ensemble 20 St. Hilda’s/St. Luke’s 27 Ukes of Hazard
Stop in for fresh and locally grown fruits, vegetables and other great local products!
7 pm every Wednesday 55 Walnut Freewill Offering
Trying to keep cool this summer? Our local business offers residential & commercial cooling and refrigeration repairs & installations. Fast service. Competitive rates. Call today!
(519) 631-1370 5680 Sunset Road (on the way to Port Stanley) Open 7 days a week. www.debackerefarmmarket.ca
519-954-7293
ThermodyneMechanical.ca
Page 24 Hometown St. Thomas • July-August 2025
To advertise here contact Geoff@VillagerPublications.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs