WINGDALE. – celebrated its 100th anniversary with a ceremony that also marked the groundbreaking of . About 100 people attended the event, including local officials, community leaders, residents, and Hunt Country Furniture employees and their families.

Hunt Country Furniture was founded in 1926 by Lockwood Hunt, who opened a small workshop on the family homestead in Wingdale. The company continues to make solid-wood furniture using traditional joinery and methods.

Hunt Craft Village is a new project inspired by the former Webatuck Craft Village, a Wingdale landmark that housed independent artisans, including woodworkers, potters, glassblowers and blacksmiths. Organizers say the new village aims to foster the highest standards of craftsmanship and train a new generation of skilled makers.

The planned campus will include the Hunt Country Furniture factory on Dog Tail Corners Road, the historic 1747 building where the ceremony took place, and other buildings. Plans also include building a new oversized chair at the intersection with Route 55, in homage to the company’s famous Big Chair.

The event, themed “Honoring Our Past. Crafting Our Future.,” was held on the grounds of the company’s historic 1747 building. Guests gathered under a tent decorated with pumpkins, cornstalks and chrysanthemums and sat in Hunt-made chairs. A scaled-down replica of the company’s giant Big Chair was on display. In 1979, Guinness World Records recognized the company’s 25-foot fireside chair as the “world’s largest chair.”

Operations Manager Todd Gazzoli, who has worked at Hunt Country Furniture for 42 years, led the program. He welcomed guests, introduced speakers, and reflected on his experiences working with company founder Lockwood Hunt. Gazzoli said milestone anniversaries are rare, and being part of this one was especially meaningful.  CEO Lucia Bartovic spoke about the significance of keeping handcrafted traditions alive in a digital world. She recognized Hunt Country Furniture’s century-long contributions and said Hunt Craft Village, which will include a craft school, will help pass on these skills to future generations.

Guests viewed a video outlining the company’s history, starting with Lillian Hunt’s antique furniture restoration in the early 1920s. Lockwood Hunt began making furniture by hand and opened The Lockwood Hunt Shop in 1926. He was later joined by his brother Julian and his son Shelley, who became partners in Hunt Country Furniture. The video also highlighted the company’s growth over the past century. Presenters shared plans for Hunt Craft Village, including an aerial rendering that drew strong interest from attendees.

Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino congratulated Hunt Country Furniture and praised the new project for promoting craftsmanship in the region. She presented the company with a proclamation honoring its 100th anniversary and a certificate recognizing the groundbreaking of Hunt Craft Village.


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