05/26/2026
From Nathaniel:
It’s been real and it’s been fun.
My passion for weaving stemmed from my time working at a museum, around 7 years ago. I spent a great deal of time interpreting 19th century life skills, and my mentor advised that chair caning was a hobby that could easily translate into paydays in the real and modern world beyond our cabin.
I founded UCC&R to supplement my income and found that he wasn’t wrong. As the only artisan providing this service commercially within 200 miles, there is no shortage of demand and the outpouring of support from surrounding communities has been astounding. However, that initial “hobby” and the feeling of accomplishment and deep connection that I felt with each piece faded over the years into deadlines, negotiating prices with “customers” who doubted the value of the work, and as I’ve always kept a day job, it turned into nights away from family, the practical dissolution of friendships completely, and it has taken me from other hobbies that meant a great deal at one point.
I have been undergoing a lifestyle change for a little over a year that I have called, “Do Less, Live More.” As much meaning as I have often found in the beautiful heirloom restorations with which we have been entrusted, the most critical step in the “Do Less” process has always been the dissolution of Union City Cane & Rush Company - at least as we know it. My “real job” situation has changed fairly drastically since those days at the museum and this business segment isn’t nearly as critical to our well-being. What is becoming all the more critical each day is time.
Time with my wife, who is getting older almost half as fast as I am. Time with my daughter, who is getting older 300 times as fast as both of combined. Time to reflect, pray, write, think, watch sunsets, enjoy mowing the yard, and… just be. I’ve never just “been” before, and that always sounded kind of lame before “being” included a Dad clause.
Over the past 6 years, I have completed over a thousand commissioned works, ranging from 20-minute repairs to month-long restorations. Many of them were grandparents having their own childhood furniture restored for their children or grandchildren - those I will treasure forever.
I will not miss fixing Cracker Barrel rocking chairs or anything containing wheat straw. 🤣
I have just 3 commissions left in my possession, and once those are completed, I will resign to my newfound nothingness until the inkling returns… perhaps when I’ve retired, by which point I may be one of 10 or less caners left in the U.S.? Who knows.
Thank you all for a wonderful first time business owner experience. I don’t feel that I’m “going out of business” - this business served its purpose in its season, and I can’t wait to share with you all what is in store for the next. I have been blessed to be able to start thinking of this more as a hobby and less as a lifeline again, and as such, am able to shift my focus to the art and history that brought me here in the first place. I’ll keep this page up to share those things as they occur sporadically.
Do Less and Live More, my friends. May God bless you and keep you. If you’re wondering what I’m up to from here on, it’ll look something like the picture below.
Nathaniel Newlin
“Chairman” of Union City Cane & Rush Co.
