CLEARFIELD- For 108 years, the steady hum of sewing machines and the scent of fabric and wood filled a local workshop where generations stitched not just furniture, but memories. Now, with full hearts and worn hands, the family behind the beloved upholstery shop is preparing to sell — passing on a legacy built one thread at a time.
Swales Styleline Upholstery, a cornerstone of the community since 1917, is officially up for sale—marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for a legacy built over four generations.
In an interview with GANT News, current owners Bob and Ralph Swales, now 80 and 85 years old respectively, said it is time to pass the business on to another generation who shares the love of the craft.
“The idea is to retire,” they both said in unison.
What began with a small shop on Daisy St. in the East End by their grandfather, Raymond, the shop was a haven for those who cherished their family heirlooms, hand-crafted furniture and automobiles.
In 1957 Francis and wife Jane incorporated their own business on Ogden Ave. They continued operations and very soon outgrew the second location.
In 1963, the iconic building along Power Avenue was constructed. The business flourished and over the years they kept adding onto not only to the building, but their scope of work.
In the beginning their parents worked on a lot of automobile interiors. They expanded into furniture, awnings, custom draperies, carpeting and working with interior designers all over the region. At any given time over the years, they employed upwards of 15 people, depending on the nature of the work.
While Bob has been involved in the business basically all of his life, working after school and coming on full-time upon graduation; Ralph said he came on to help his father and brother full- time in 1965.
Over the years the brothers said that each one of their own children were involved and helped out in the workshop wherever they could.
Bob recalled a time when his oldest son Andy was looking to earn some extra money during college. He said to himself, “Sure, let’s give him a little test” and pointed to a large old sofa with broken springs and told him to “get to work.” He said an hour later he came back to find Andy meticulously, without any guidance, hand-tying the springs. “I was impressed,” said Bob. “He got the job.”
His youngest son, Rob, was also eager to be involved and hand-painted the large business sign without stencil on the most visible side of the building. A lifetime family joke was Rob’s favorite activity of gathering scraps around the shop and nail together to create a “cat chair.”
Bob’s daughters Sue and Tracy were masters at hand-making buttons for church pews, often a thousand at a time.
“All of our kids had a hand in this along the way,” said Ralph.
While the scope of the business is ever changing, different generations still want to hold onto their heirlooms or want to re-furbish antiquities, so there will always be a need.
The brothers jointly said that their dream is to retire, but plan to stay on as they can until the building is sold and hopefully a new owner is willing to take over their business and clientele. They added that they would be willing to stay on to help new owners “ease into the business.”
“We still have a lot of customers that depend on our services,” they said.
What has been family, tradition and a thread in the fabric of the community, the Swales are now looking forward to a new chapter written over the generations with love, sacrifice and pride.
“If anything can possibly be done to keep the business going our hearts will be full,” said the brothers.
