Roadside Find (with a mystery) Makeover: Dovetail Blanket Chest

  I have been looking at these blanket chests in antique stores, not really caring to buy one.  I really didn't need another chest, but I loved the dovetails, key hole, and candle box inside.  

Free with a little bit of work was just the right price for me.  

What a neat roadside find!

There is an interesting mystery to me behind this little blanket chest find.

The first owners of our home were the Heiseys.

I found this chest at the other end of our small town.  When I opened the lid, there were two names written in child-like cursive writing, Dorothy and Beatrice Heisey.  I was curious to find out whether these two girls were related to the first owners of our home.  I believe they were from a Mennonite background, so I was actually able to match who I believe is the first owner of our home with two sisters named Dorothy and Beatrice.  Am I positive? no...but it is neat to think that the guy's sisters' hope chest is in a home that he once owned.

Here it is the day I picked it up.  Stained and broken, hubby was not very enthused.

I am not sure how old it is.

It was painted with a wood graining technique.

The wood that chipped off of the chest's lid where the hinges are was still in the trunk. 

 I had high hopes that I could fix this and actually use it.

I glued the wood pieces back on the lid and

 sanded it down to the natural poplar wood. 

It was beautiful just sanded.

I left the writing on the inside lid, but I don't think you can see it in the picture.

I used Annie Sloans' Dark wax to finish it.

It turned turned out beautiful, and the lid seems pretty solid.