Kleinhans earns Merit Award for refinished treasure
by Verla Peichl
Review Correspondent
SHEBOYGAN FALLS – Anna Kleinhans, age 16, Sheboygan Falls, is the daughter of Randy and Sue Kleinhans. She is in her 10th year as a member of the Johnsonville Hustlers and has refinished a family treasure. Her efforts have been rewarded with the winning of a Merit Award at the Sheboygan County Fair.
“My great-great-great-grandpa made the dresser about 75-80 years ago for my great-great-aunt Molly,” Kleinhans said. “She is now in a nursing home and can’t keep it; now it’s mine.
“The dresser has 10 drawers, all different sizes, except for some of the middle drawers that are the same,” Kleinhans explained.
“I got the idea when I saw it,” Kleinhans said. “It was painted with several coats of white paint so it needed to be stripped several times. There were at least three or four coats of paint on it.
“We’re not sure of the wood, but it’s mostly oak,” Kleinhans pointed out, “but there are some other kinds throughout it.
“Once I got the paint off, there was lots of sanding,” Kleinhans said. “I used a mouse sander, a belt sander and there was lots of hand sanding, especially on the knobs.
“Everything is original, even the drawer papers,” Kleinhans continued. “We put them back in the same drawers after we were finished.
“I tried to fill some of the holes with putty, but it didn’t match good so I decided to leave the marks,” Kleinhans said. “I thought it added character to the piece.
“After it was sanded, we just stained and varnished it.
“My dad helped me; we did it at our house,” Kleinhans added. “It took awhile to do.
“I learned a lot of family history,” Kleinhans said. “I went to the Historical Research Society and did research and found that my great-great-great-grandpa owned a lumberyard.
“I talked to my great-great-aunt and she had more history to tell me.
“I made a scrapbook with pictures on the refinishing process, and I put in the articles that I found at the Historical Research Society,” Kleinhans said.
“I think it turned out good,” Kleinhans commented. “I really like it. I liked using the darker color, and it has nice graining.
“The judge really liked that I put a book with it and learned more about my family history. “I will put it in my room and I will use it,” Kleinhans said.
