Story City Herald Article

Welcoming RVP~1875 to 526 Broad

by Carolyn Honeycutt
© Story City Herald (used by permission)

You may have noticed recently the activity going on inside 526 Broad. There is furniture in the windows, new lettering on the glass, and a skilled craftsman inside. Robby Pedersen, Master Furniture Maker, just recently opened the doors to his business RVP~1875.

Robby designs and builds beautiful 19th century utilitarian style furniture by hand using only tools of the same period. Without the use of electric saws or drills, Robby uses his self-taught skills as a master craftsman with hand planes, chisels, and dovetail joints. Most pieces are either solid or faced with the natural hard woods of Iowa, such as oak, walnut, and maple, all of which he cuts down himself with an ax.

For the past nine years, Robby made his furniture at Living History Farms. Looking for a change, he decided to find a new location to build and sell it to the public. A native Iowan from Jefferson, Robby and his partner Andrea Reedy are excited to be open for business. "I needed a place with hardwood floors and high ceilings, and I just really liked Story City," said Robby. Although his original business plan did not include a retail shop, the space at 526 Broad allowed him to expand his business to include one.

So if you're looking for a unique trunk, armoire, or bench, this shop is definitely worth a trip downtown. And if you have always wanted to learn more about the art of woodworking, be sure to sign up for his next instructional class. In addition to furniture making, Robby has also appeared on stage for the Ingersol dinner theater, most recently as Will Parker in their production of Oklahoma! Don't be surprised if you see him on stage in our next Judge Story production. Stop by and welcome RVP~1875 to downtown Story City.