Dear Mr. and Mrs. Woody,

Enclosed is a picture of my little girl with her chair that she dearly loves.

Dear Mr. Woody,

Enclosed is the January 13 issue of the Johnson City Press that includes the article about your shop. I hope you enjoy it.

My daughter loves the music box I bought from you. When I am in the area with my family, we will stop in again.

Sincerely, James Craig

Name of Business: Woody's Chair Shop
Address:  110 Dale Road, Spruce Pine, NC  28777
Phone: 704/765-9277
Present Owner(s): Arval J. Woody - Nora N. Woody
Type of Business: Handcrafted ladderback chairs, other wood items

# of Location/Where: One -- above address.
History of Business From Startup to Present: Where/When/Founder(s), etc.

We do not know where and when the first WOODY'S began making furniture and other wood products. The five generations we know about lived in Mitchell Co. The first that was personally known was Arval's grandfather, Arthur Woody. He was born in 1856 and died in 1952, a month shy of his 97th birthday. He was still making an occasional chair when he was 95. We know his father, Henry Woody, and grandfather Wyatte Woody were makers of chairs, wagons, and general farm- and household furniture. None of these three generations had a formal business - they were simply known as being wood­workers; mainly ladderback chairs. We do know that Arthur shipped chairs to many parts of the country. His son, Charlie Woody, worked with his father until his death in 1943. Another son, Martin Woody, worked with his father to learn the trade, then was with the builders of the railway through this area with a particular expertise of building trestles and tunnels. He then operated his own wood shop, with a strong preference for making chairs, until well into his 80's. 
 

The present shop was built in 1946 by brothers Arval and Walter Woody. Each had been in service in WWII, and were considering career choices. Arval was teaching agriculture to a veteran's group under the GI bill. Walter was training under the Gl bill for a profession in mechanics. They built the building that is the site of today's WOODY'S CHAIR SHOP. Arval operated a general store and service station, while continuing to teach. Both brotherss then decided they wanted to try chair making. They started on very small scale with a roped off corner of the store as a showroom, working at building chairs part time and continuing their other jobs. Very gradually the chair-making became their sole business. The general store and service station were gradually phased out as they began to get enough business to support themselves through the woodworking.

Walter Woody retired as of January 1,1980. Arval's vife, Nora, purchased his partnership interest.

Arval Woody and Nora Woody now operate the business as a partnership.

The present shop is the only one that can be documented as to the date it was begun. The ancestor's just made their chairs and other wood pieces, and became known for this work, as 'did a majority of other business people during these years.

Has an attached letter from Becky Orr, Administrator, Southern Highland Craft Guild, that reads:

Dear Mr. Woody:

I'm enclosing a duplicate copy of your SHHG membership certificate. It took me a while to get both Mr. Gray and Freida Terrell together to get signatures.

If this is not the correct certificate (I wasn't sure if you had lost your "life" membership certificate or your original membership certificate), please let me know and I will do it again.

Hope you had a good show. Also hope you are feeling well. I guess you have completed your treatments by now. Please know thaqt I am thinking about you and pray for your continued improved health.

My very best regards to Nora!

Sincerely, Becky

Enclosure: Certificate.

October 14, 1991
Woody Chair Shop
Spruce Pine, NC

Dear Mr. Woody:

It was nice talking to you about the Woody family and getting me in touch with the Woodys in Bakersville. We visited with Bruce Woody, and I gave him some of my research with the understanding he will share with me when he can find time to write. I would like to have some information from you as to some of your family. You said your ancestor was Arthur Woody and I need the names of his children and if you know their names, the names of his wife. Charlie Woody's birth and deaths dates, his wife's name, and their children. Any dates, names, etc. will really help in my research.

I am enclosing a chart on the first Wyatt Woody who was born abt 1774 in VA to Henry Woody and Susan Martin. Henry and Susannah were married in Goochland, VA 13 Jan 1761. They are buried in Franklin Co. VA. Henry died 7 Dec 1807 at the age of about 72 yr. Susan died in 1835, but I do not know when she was born.

Wyatt married Mary Emily ROBERTSQN/ROBERSON daughter of John. Robertson. John Roberson brought his sons to NC in the late 1780s and one son, George, went back to VA to get his "child hood sweetheart", Judith Woody and settled in the Burke Co area. George and Judith are buried at Double Island in Yancey Co. Another Woody man, Martin, also married a daughter of John, Susannah Roberson. She and Martin stayed in VA. There was another Woody brother, Henry who married Judith Webb, who I know nothing about, but would like to find out about. Where did he go? The Woodys in Orange Co., NC was not your family, but I do not know where they came from or when. They may have come from a Mass, family.

I am descended from Judith Woody and George Roberson through Judith Roberspn and Rev. Thomas Wilson of Rebel's Creek, Mitchell Co. My Mother was grand-daughter of William Willis (Uncle Will) and Lucinda Wilson. Her mother was a Totley.

I am going to try to attend the Woody Reunion in June 1992. Bruce Woody asked me to try to attend and if possible to bring some written information. That is why I would like to have information from you.

Sincerely, ...

Dear Mr. Woody:

The selection council of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Institute for Human Potential is pleased to inform you that you have been chosen the North Carolina Living Treasure for 1995. Your devotion to your craft is an exemplary model for others to emulate. Public and media announcements will be made at a later date and will be coordinated by Mrs. Mary W. Cunningham, executive director of university relations.

We will look forward to you and your wife's arrival in Wilmington, Wednesday afternoon, October 25, 1995. Thursday is set aside for media and meeting students. If possible, could you bring with you some examples of your work? The press and the students would be most interested. Friday evening, October 27, 1995, at 6:00 pm., you will be honored with a banquet in the University Center. Invitation are to be mailed about three to four weks before the banquet. Please send me your list of those individuals you would like to receive an invitation.

Congratulations on your new honor. We are very proud to have you visitor campus and represent North Carolina as a living treasure.

With all best wishes,  Gerald H. Shinn, Director.

Dear Mr. Woody,

Congratulations on being featured in the January 1993 issue of The State magazine. It is great to see hometown folks recognized for their wonderful talents. I remember studying North Carolina history not too many years ago and reading about your chair shop. I believe we even took a tour of your shop.

Once again, congratulations and if I may be of assistance please feel free to call. Have a nice week.

Sincerely, Gregg Thompson, Representative