Our Rightful Place

As a family, we call ourselves the “Nautical Bunch” and we consist of a full-sized bed, a chest of drawers, and a dresser with a mirror in the shape of a ship’s steering wheel.  We have been associated with the Woliver family for four generations.

Our journey began in July of 1941 when we were purchased by Ernest and Leona Woliver who lived on Scottish Pike on the south side of the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tennessee. Their boys would soon enlist for service in the Armed Forces (two in the US Navy) while Earnest’s father, Alex, was the captain of a tugboat on the Tennessee River.  Our nautical identity was attractive to Earnest and Leona and we were proud to be placed in their primary bedroom.

In 1952, we moved from Scottish Pike to a small rural property in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains on Bud King Road.  As empty-nesters, Earnest and Leona established a twenty acre farm that contained a small, five room house; a garage/workshop; a barn; a chicken coop, and a “privy.”  Although we felt like “a fish out of water” on this property, we continued to serve “Ern” and “Snooks” for nearly a decade until sometime in the 1960’s we were moved into a small storage area in the house where we collected dust for the next twenty years.  Perhaps we were temporarily abandoned because Ern and Snooks no longer slept together due to how they “rattled” at night, and because the small house was expanded creating a different sleeping opportunity.

Following the deaths of Ernest and Leona, we were moved to a woodworker’s shop where we were stripped and refinished to a pristine condition by a "Mr. Newman", and then took residence on Colchester Court with Charles and Dorsey Lou Woliver on November, 1991.  Here, we proudly served in the guest bedroom for thirty-one years.

Charles and Dorsey Lou Woliver at 3524 Colchester Court, Knoxville, TN

In 2017, we left Tennessee, and were moved to a rural farm house outside of Columbus, Ohio where we served Patrick and Loretta Woliver, a place called "Merry Mount". Our reception there was mixed.  We were welcomed and admired by Patrick, but were ridiculed by Loretta and friends.  Our residence there was comparatively short lived, for in 2022, we were moved to Hubbard Lake, Michigan.

Pat and Loretta Woliver on the steps of Merry Mount

At 370 Weier Lane, Spruce, MI we served Simon and Kris Woliver and their three daughters: Joy, Eva, and Asa.  The twins (Joy and Eva) slept in a bunkbed in a room across from us, but Asa slept in a crib in our room until she outgrew it, and then moved into the room with her sisters.  Our room was too small to accommodate all of us, so we found ourselves dispersed throughout the lake house. But, being good stewards, we accommodated several guests including Caroline Woliver and Jess Barciz. We overheard a few of them voicing their displeasure with an unpleasant smell in the room.  Surely, they were not displeased with us.

"I love it under here!"-Nellie

On May 14, 2025 we moved into “our rightful place” in a lake house called, "Birdsong Cottage" on Hubbard Lake once again with Patrick and Loretta Woliver, Nellie and Minnie.  From our upstairs room, we have a view of the lake.  It has been quite the journey, but we are content and ready to serve.

CPW