When Our Name Appeared in a 1898 Wallpaper Trade Magazine

Introduction

In a world of instant posts and quick scrolls, it is easy to forget that trades like painting and wallpapering have always had a professional community behind them. Long before websites and social media, the industry had its own journals — publications that shared new tools, material innovations, manufacturer news, and, occasionally, stories about the people doing the work.

One of those publications was Carpets, Wall Papers and Curtains, a trade magazine printed in New York and circulated throughout the country. I recently came across an original issue dated March 5, 1898 (Whole Number 949, Nineteenth Year). Holding it in your hands is like stepping into the working world of wallpaper and decorating at the end of the 1800s — when the trade was booming, Philadelphia was a major hub, and the standards of craftsmanship were everything.

Even more meaningful for me: this magazine included a write-up about our family and our work in the decorative trade. It is one thing to say "Since 1889." It is another thing to read how the industry described you, in print, more than a century ago.

A Snapshot of the Wallpaper World in the 1890s

The cover alone tells a story. This was not a lifestyle magazine for homeowners. It was a working publication for dealers, mills, and decorators — people who made their living selecting product, selling it, and installing it properly.

The advertisements are a window into what the wallpaper business looked like at the time: tools designed specifically to handle wallpaper inventory quickly and neatly; Philadelphia-based manufacturers and suppliers promoting their goods to dealers around the country; and a focus on productivity in the showroom and in the back room — because wallpaper was not just a "look," it was inventory, logistics, and skilled installation.

Wallpaper in that era was a serious business. The patterns were bold, the detailing was intentional, and the labor behind it was specialized. Paperhanging was not an afterthought. It was a respected trade.

What They Wrote About Our Family

Inside this publication, there was a write-up announcing the next step in our family's work in the decorating trade. The article describes John Benners and his experience in the industry, including his connection with established firms and his responsibility running a wallpaper department on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. It notes that he stepped out on his own to take over a store on Chestnut Street and build a decorative business based around carefully selected paper hangings from strong lines.

That kind of description is not a slogan. It is not marketing. It is what the industry said about you when your name and your work were your only resume.

How Wallpaper Has Evolved — and What Has Not Changed

Wallpaper has gone through major shifts since the late 1800s — changes in manufacturing, materials, adhesives, installation methods, and design trends. But the core requirement has not changed: if it is installed poorly, it will not look right and it will not last.

• Late 1800s into the Early 1900s — The "Golden Age" of Decoration Wallpaper was commonly layered: a main field pattern, a frieze, borders, and even ceiling papers used together. Installation demanded skill: aligning repeats, managing corners, cutting clean around trim, and dealing with imperfect plaster walls.
• Mid-Century — Shifts in Taste Paint became more common as a primary finish, and wallpaper often moved into a supporting role or specific rooms. Even then, the fundamentals stayed the same: wall prep, adhesion, layout, pattern alignment, and clean finishing details.
• Late 1900s — Durability-Driven Products Commercial wallcoverings (including vinyl) grew quickly for hotels, healthcare, corridors, and other high-traffic spaces. With that came technical installation requirements: substrate conditions, seam integrity, adhesive compatibility, and jobsite logistics.
• Today — Design-Forward and Specialized Modern wallpaper is more varied than ever: natural fibers, grasscloths, murals, woven textures, high-performance vinyls, peel-and-stick products, and custom prints. That range means the installer needs more judgment, not less — especially in older homes where walls are rarely perfect.

The Tools Changed. The Standards Did Not.

Today we have better lighting, better blades, better adhesives, and better access to information. We can coordinate projects more efficiently and share work instantly. But if you strip all that away, the work still comes down to the same principles:

That is how a trade stays a trade — and not just a service.

Why This Magazine Matters to Us

Finding that 1898 issue gave me two things at once: context and confirmation. Context, because it shows what the wallpaper world looked like when our family was building its name — an industry of manufacturers, dealers, and decorators who took the work seriously. Confirmation, because the write-up about our family was describing an approach: steady, careful, reputable work that people could rely on.

That is what "Since 1889" means to me. Not just the year on a logo, but a standard we are responsible for carrying forward.

Closing

Wallpaper has evolved with every generation — materials, styles, and technology have all moved forward. But the best installations still come from the same place: a trained eye, steady hands, and the patience to do the preparation that nobody sees.

I am proud that over a century ago, our family was described for those exact qualities. And I am proud that those are still the qualities we bring to our work today.