A Hilham woman has turned her personal hobby of collecting and restoring antique cookware into a business focused on preserving the history and utility of cast iron.
Tammy Swafford said her shop serves as an overflow for her personal collection. She said her work involves taking rusted items that have lived a long life and stripping them down to bare metal to prevent future deterioration.
“I just love the aspect of getting something that’s over a hundred years old and bringing it back to its glory,” Swafford said. “And then I think about the little ladies and men that took this cast iron and it was a way of life for feeding their families.”
Swafford noted that cast iron history dates back to the 1600s, though many original manufacturers like Erie and Griswold are no longer in business. She stated that vintage pieces are often lighter and of higher quality than modern alternatives because current foundries do not take the time to mill the metal as they once did.
“What makes it better for me is it’s just slicker skillets and pots and pans than what we have being made today,” Swafford said. “It’s just a lot better to cook with.”
Beyond sales, the business offers restoration services for customers looking to revive heirlooms passed down from grandmothers. Swafford strips these items of buildup and rust before seasoning them again to ensure they can be used by future generations.
“It’s rare to find some of the older pieces because a lot of these pieces didn’t survive,” Swafford said. “Maybe they were in a house fire or maybe they got left setting outside and got busted and cracked.”
Since opening the store, Swafford has received a high volume of inquiries from collectors and individuals across the country seeking specific items like skillets, sauce pans, and scotch bowls. She noted that during the first few weeks of operation, she spent hours every night responding to messages from people interested in restoration or acquisition.
“We’re really hoping this spring and summer that we can have some cast iron cooking demonstrations here,” Swafford said. “So I’m excited about that and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Old Standing Stone Cast Iron and More is located at 906 Old Standing Stone Road in Hilham.