The Craftsman Shop is still very much alive though you won’t find it across from Barrack’s Great Value on Main Street in Mathews, Virginia. Elwood K. Brooks, Jr., with his wife, Catherine, began the business in a shop at their home in 1951. In 1964 they found it necessary to move the retail business to the shopping area known as the Mathews Court House. Since Catherine had begun stocking a line of dress and suiting fabrics plus their slip cover and window treatment business, customers took over the living quarters of the home as well as the rooms used for the business.

     Mr. Brooks died in an accident in 1973. Some years afterwards, Catherine sold her home and the original location of the Craftsman Shop when the upkeep became too much for her. Ten years later her daughter, who wanted to continue the decorating business when her mother could no longer work, and son-in-law purchased the property. When Catherine closed the business in Mathews Court House in late 1998, what better place for her daughter, Susan B. Adams, to move the decorating business with window treatments, bedspreads, slip covers and other accessories than to its original home.

     To date Adams’ work space has been crowded, but she and her husband, Edgar, are working towards more workroom space. She sub-contracts a part of her work to responsible seamstresses out of the county. Yet most of the sewing is done in her workroom with her capable hands. Being her mother, I can tell you that she is a better seamstress than I ever was, having learned much after I learned the hard way—often by trial and error.

     Both Susan and Edgar attend Hunter Douglas® seminars and classes about their products, not being able to sell the various types of shades, blinds and shutters until they have learned the proper installation procedures. The Craftsman Shop is now a “Full line and Priority Dealer” for Hunter Douglas® products as of 2000.

     Know what you want but don’t have the name for the new window treatment, find a magazine picture or sketch a drawing? Susan will assist you. She stays booked months ahead at times so don’t wait until you are ready for the finished product to contact her. Look ahead. Susan attends the latest shows and can advise on what the latest trend may be, or she’ll use your ideas.

     Since The Craftsman Shop doesn’t have a proper showroom at this point, call Susan, you’ll probably get a recording, but leave your name and number. She’ll be back in touch with you in short order. She will bring the samples, showing any material on hand, to you or if that is inconvenient, set a time to meet you at her office. If in doubt as to the service The Craftsman Shop offers today, call and ask for any number of references. Her phone number is 804-725-2187. In emergencies her mobile phone is 804-366-0032—a local call in Mathews and Gloucester. Her email is sadams@ccsinc.com. 

© 2001 Catherine C. Brooks All Rights Reserved

Readers may contact Catherine Books via email cbrooks@ccsinc.com