I wish we could have rescued one of those deacon's benches. They eventually landed in the basement and suffered water damage from repeated flooding.

They were uncomfortable as all hell but were good for storage.

But my favorite thing about the benches was that they were made by a transvestite cabinet-maker that my Dad knew from his beat in Laurelton.

S/he went by the name of Frieda. After the benches were delivered, Mom had Frieda over for dinner. She arrive wearing a mink stole. I seem to recall Mom acquiring a stole for herself sometime after this. We never did have Frieda back over.