Sassafras Creek Originals – Where Early American Life Directory Craftsmen Create Heirloom Quality in an 1850 General Store

At 311 St. Marys Road in the heart of Sainte Geneviève’s historic district, Sassafras Creek Originals occupies the circa 1850 Brooks House—a two-story brick building transformed into colonial-era general store where owner Kandye Mahurin (selected for Early American Life Magazine’s Directory of Traditional American Craftsmen eight consecutive years) and fellow Directory-juried artisans showcase hand-crafted Colonial/Primitive Early American folk art that meets museum-curator standards for authenticity, scholarship, and period-appropriate materials and techniques. This isn’t a shop selling colonial-style imports from overseas factories—Sassafras Creek’s rigorous quality standard requires that at least 75% of merchandise is American-made, with vendors carefully selected from the prestigious Early American Life Directory, ensuring every game board, bandbox, redware plate, woven coverlet, piece of tinware, and folk art creation represents genuine traditional craftsmanship using period materials, tools, and techniques that curators at Colonial Williamsburg, living history museums, and motion picture producers rely on for authentic period pieces. Step inside rooms arranged like an old-time general store and discover heirloom-quality handcrafts preserving American artisan traditions rapidly disappearing in the digital age.

The Early American Life Directory: Museum-Quality Standard

Sassafras Creek Originals’ commitment to featuring Early American Life Directory craftsmen creates quality distinction separating the shop from typical “colonial style” retailers.

What Is the Early American Life Directory?

The Directory of Traditional American Crafts appears annually (typically August issue) in Early American Life magazine—a national publication founded in 1970 focusing on architecture, decorative arts, period style, and social history from colonial times through the mid-19th century. The Directory has been used for nearly three decades by:

Museum curators at living history museums seeking period-appropriate furnishings and accessories for displays
Collectors of traditional homes wanting authentic reproductions or period interpretations
Motion picture producers needing historically accurate props and set pieces for films
Historic preservationists restoring period properties
Serious enthusiasts unwilling to settle for mass-market “colonial style” knock-offs

The Jurying Process:

Selection for the Directory involves rigorous evaluation by panel of national experts—museum curators, collectors, and other authorities—who judge:

Authentic design and workmanship – Whether piece is faithful reproduction or artisan’s interpretation of period style, it must demonstrate accurate understanding of historical forms, proportions, and decoration

Scholarship – Artisans must show research into historical examples, understanding of regional variations, and knowledge of period construction methods

Period tools and techniques – Judges particularly value use of traditional hand tools, historical construction methods, and avoidance of modern shortcuts that compromise authenticity

Period materials – Authentic woods, metals, textiles, dyes, and other materials matching what colonial craftspeople would have used

The Directory represents top 200 traditional American craftsmen nationally—extremely selective recognition honoring only those whose work achieves museum-collection quality.

Why This Matters at Sassafras Creek:

When Kandye Mahurin stocks her shop exclusively with fellow Directory craftsmen, she guarantees customers receive authentic American handcrafts rather than imported colonial-style décor. You’re not buying something that “looks old” or “seems colonial”—you’re purchasing pieces scholars and curators would recognize as legitimate examples of traditional American crafts worthy of museum display.

Kandye Mahurin: Eight-Year Directory Selection

Owner Kandye Mahurin has been selected for the Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Craftsmen eight consecutive years—remarkable achievement indicating consistent high standards and peer recognition.

Her Origin Story:

Sassafras Creek Originals began in 1994 from Kandye’s frustration. While antiquing, she spotted a beautiful hand-painted game board but considered it well out of her price range (authentic 18th-century game boards can command thousands of dollars at auction). Rather than abandoning her desire, she decided to create her own—painting and aging one to look like the antique original.

The result was so successful that she began selling reproductions at local shows. Early on, several pieces sold to well-known Early American stores in St. Louis and St. Charles, validating her craftsmanship. Encouraged, she expanded into hand-sewn bandboxes (covered storage boxes), drawing on fascination with containers people used during the Colonial period.

Her Specialties:

Hand-Painted Game Boards – Checkerboards, parcheesi boards, and other game surfaces painted in period colors and patterns, then artificially aged through various techniques (distressing, crackling, applying layers of color and wear) to replicate 200+ years of use. These aren’t simply painted wood—they’re painstaking recreations requiring understanding of period pigments, painting styles, and how wood and paint age together over centuries.

Hand-Sewn Bandboxes – Oval or round covered boxes originally used for storing clothing, hats, accessories, and household items in 18th and early 19th centuries. Kandye creates authentic reproductions:

Hand-sewn construction (no modern adhesives)
Covered with reproduction copies of antique wallpapers (period-accurate patterns and colors)
Lined with newspapers (as originals were)
Properly sized and proportioned to match museum examples

Bandboxes represent folk art—common people decorating functional storage with scraps of beautiful wallpaper, creating objects that were simultaneously practical and aesthetically pleasing.

The Self-Taught Journey:

Kandye is self-taught artist—learning through books, museum visits (Colonial Williamsburg is favorite destination), study of antique examples, and trial-and-error experimentation with techniques. This autodidactic path mirrors how many colonial craftspeople learned—observation, practice, and refinement rather than formal training.

The 1850 Brooks House: General Store Atmosphere

Sassafras Creek Originals occupies the circa 1850 Brooks House at 311 St. Marys Road—historic brick building in Ste. Genevieve’s historic district, now part of Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park buffer zone.

The Building Context:

Built 1850 during Ste. Genevieve’s prosperous mid-19th-century period (lead mining boom, Mississippi River commerce, agricultural success), the Brooks House represents substantial brick commercial/residential architecture replacing earlier frame structures. The building’s survival through 175 years and location in National Historical Park area adds authenticity—shopping for colonial-era reproductions inside actual historic structure enhances immersive experience.

The General Store Layout:

Kandye arranged the interior to evoke old-time general store atmosphere—rooms filled floor-to-ceiling with merchandise, items displayed on shelves, tables, and surfaces the way 19th-century stores maximized limited space, creating browsing experience requiring time and attention to discover treasures.

Reviews describe it as “each room is like a step back in time, patterned after an old-time General Store”—the aesthetic isn’t modern retail showroom with white walls and spotlights, but crowded, eclectic abundance of hand-crafted items where discovery and exploration are part of the shopping pleasure.

The Colonial “Cage”:

A conversation piece at the counter is the “colonial cage”—locked wooden container copied from examples at Colonial Williamsburg taverns. In the 18th century, taverns weren’t just drinking establishments—they functioned as inns where travelers spent the night. Tavern keepers needed to secure valuable commodities (liquor, coffee, tea, spices) from guest theft, so they used locked wooden cages or cupboards. The cage at Sassafras Creek educates customers about period practices while demonstrating Kandye’s attention to historical detail and love of Colonial Williamsburg’s material culture.

The Inventory: 75% American-Made Handcrafts

Sassafras Creek maintains rigorous standard: at least 75% of merchandise is made in America, with emphasis on handcrafted items from Early American Life Directory artisans.

The Categories:

Hand-Crafted Colonial/Primitive Folk Art:

Game boards (checkers, parcheesi, other traditional games)
Painted furniture (chests, boxes, shelves in period styles and colors)
Decorative painting (theorem painting, fraktur, folk art motifs)
Carved items (decoys, weather vanes, whirligigs, santos)
Chalkware (plaster decorations molded and painted)

Redware Pottery:

Traditional red earthenware ceramics
Sgraffito decoration (scratched through slip to reveal clay beneath)
Lead-glazed utilitarian pieces (plates, bowls, crocks, jugs)
Reproduction of regional pottery styles (Pennsylvania German, New England)

Woven Coverlets and Table Runners:

Hand-woven textiles using period patterns
Overshot weaving, summer-winter weaves, doubleweave techniques
Natural fiber yarns (wool, linen, cotton)
Traditional colorways (indigo blue, madder red, natural whites/creams)

Tinware:

Punched tin lanterns, sconces, and decorative pieces
Hand-pierced patterns (traditional motifs like tulips, stars, hearts)
Historically accurate tin plating and finishing

Will Moses Puzzles:

Folk art puzzles by Will Moses (great-grandson of Grandma Moses)
Depicting traditional American rural scenes
High-quality puzzles with artistic merit

Springerle Molds and Cookie Cutters:

Hand-carved wooden molds for German springerle cookies
Traditional cookie cutter shapes
Handmade in USA

Colonial Teas:

Period-appropriate tea blends
Historical tea service accessories
Educational information about 18th-century tea culture

Home Décor and Gifts:

Candles (beeswax, tallow-style)
Dried herbs and botanicals
Reproduction antique papers and prints
Period-appropriate textiles
Americana gift items

The Quality Philosophy:

Kandye emphasizes that “hand craftsmanship and the heirloom quality of each piece is the primary reason customers fall in love with Sassafras Creek Originals.” These aren’t disposable décor items purchased at big-box stores and replaced when trends change—they’re investment pieces meant to last generations, created by artisans who take pride in perpetuating endangered traditional crafts.

The Demonstrations:

Past Pioneer Days have featured:

Blacksmithing (forging iron, making tools and hardware)
Militia drilling (colonial military exercises)
Gunsmithing (rifle and musket maintenance and repair)
Woodworking (period joinery, furniture making)
Open-hearth cooking (18th-century food preparation)
Spinning wool (turning fleece into yarn)
Fur trading (animal pelt processing and trading practices)
Leather working (making belts, bags, shoes)
Basket weaving (traditional basket construction)
Paper marbling (decorative paper techniques)
Candle making (dipping and molding)
Rope making (twisting fibers into cordage)
Pottery (throwing and hand-building ceramics)

The Hands-On Experience:

Unlike museum demonstrations where visitors only watch, Pioneer Days encourages participation. Adults and children can try skills under artisan guidance, creating memorable educational experience. Children’s activities and games provide age-appropriate engagement.

The Free Admission:

The event itself is free, though Kandye advises bringing cash for vendor purchases (some craftspeople may not accept cards). This accessibility welcomes broad audience rather than limiting attendance to affluent collectors.

Pioneer Days transforms Sassafras Creek’s St. Marys Road location into living history encampment, creating community gathering celebrating traditional skills and craftsmanship.

The Sassafras Creek Cabin: Restoration Road Fame

Adjacent to the shop sits the Sassafras Creek Cabin—circa 1840 hand-hewn log structure relocated from Perry County and restored as Airbnb rental, featured on Season 1, Episode 3 of “Restoration Road with Clint Harp” (streaming on Magnolia Channel/Discovery Plus).

The Cabin’s Journey:

For 15 years, the Mahurins (who live in Perryville) admired a corn crib on the Grebing Farm two miles from their house. When “Restoration Road” producers approached their son Andy and his boss about restoration projects, the opportunity materialized to acquire, move, and transform the structure.

The show chronicles:

Disassembling the 1840s corn crib
Transporting it to Ste. Genevieve
Reassembling the hand-hewn logs
Restoring it as two-story cabin (three beds, one bathroom)
Period-appropriate furnishing and décor

Carpenter/host Clint Harp and production team spent first two weeks and final week on-site, with additional film crews documenting progress. The episode showcases both craftsmanship and historical preservation philosophy.

The AirBnB Success:

Since listing in January (following episode premiere), the cabin books every weekend and receives strong demand. Located between two houses in Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park and within walking distance to downtown historic sites, it offers immersive period lodging experience next to Sassafras Creek Originals shop.

Kandye reports Clint Harp is “as down to earth as he appears on TV… you just kind of feel like he’s the next-door neighbor” and “very interested in history.” The cabin represents culmination of the Mahurins’ passion for preserving traditional structures and crafts.

Building Sassafras Creek Into Your Itinerary: The Artisan Quality Shopping Tour

Sassafras Creek Originals anchors a curated shopping experience focused on handcrafted quality and Early American authenticity—pairing beautifully with other Ste. Genevieve establishments offering artisan craftsmanship:

The Quality Crafts Circuit:

Morning:

ASL Pewter (183 South 3rd Street) – Watch Tom and Patricia Hooper create museum-quality pewter using 1873 water-powered lathe and traditional techniques; fellow Early American Life Directory artisans
Sassafras Creek Originals (311 St. Marys Road) – Browse hand-crafted colonial folk art, bandboxes, game boards, redware pottery from Directory craftsmen

Lunch: Downtown restaurant

Afternoon:

European Entitlements – [Aaron, I don’t have details on this shop—please provide address and description]
Silver Sycamore – [Aaron, please provide details]
The Antique Mall Ste. Genevieve (100 Market Street) – Multi-dealer antique mall with vintage and collectible items
Schultz Antiques – [Aaron, please provide details]

The Common Thread:

These establishments share emphasis on:

Quality over quantity – Curated selection rather than warehouse volume
Handcrafted items – Human skill and artistry versus mass production
American-made goods – Supporting domestic artisans
Historical authenticity – Period-appropriate designs, materials, techniques
Collector-level merchandise – Investment-quality pieces for serious enthusiasts

Who Should Visit:

Colonial & Early American Décor Enthusiasts – Decorating period homes or creating colonial-style interiors with authentic pieces

Museum-Quality Collectors – Seeking pieces meeting curator standards for historical authenticity

Living History Participants – Reenactors and historical interpreters needing period-appropriate items for impressions

American Craft Supporters – Valuing handmade domestic production over imported goods

Antique Lovers – Appreciating reproductions created with same craftsmanship as original antiques

Gift Shoppers – Finding unique heirloom-quality items for special occasions

History Buffs – Learning about traditional crafts and colonial material culture

Pioneer Days Attendees – Timing visits for annual May demonstration event

Restoration Road Fans – Visiting cabin featured on Clint Harp’s show

Practical Information

Name: Sassafras Creek Originals

Owner: Kandye Mahurin (8-year Early American Life Directory selection)

Address: 311 St. Marys Road, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670

Phone: (573) 513-2491

Website: scoshoppe.com

Building: Circa 1850 Brooks House

Founded: 1994 (Kandye began creating game boards) Shop opened: February 2018 (in current location)

Quality Standard: At least 75% American-made; vendors selected from Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Craftsmen

Specialty Items:

Hand-painted game boards (by Kandye)
Hand-sewn bandboxes (by Kandye)
Redware pottery
Woven coverlets and table runners
Folk art and primitive décor
Tinware
Will Moses puzzles
Springerle molds and cookie cutters
Colonial teas

Adjacent Property: Sassafras Creek Cabin (circa 1840 log cabin Airbnb, featured on “Restoration Road”)

Atmosphere: Old-time general store layout with rooms filled floor-to-ceiling with merchandise

Pet Policy: No pets, please

Where Directory Craftsmen Keep Traditions Alive

Sassafras Creek Originals proves that Early American Life Directory standards mean museum-quality craftsmanship, that hand-sewn bandboxes covered in reproduction antique wallpapers preserve 18th-century folk art traditions, that game boards painted and aged to look two centuries old require genuine skill and scholarship, and that shopping for colonial-era handcrafts inside an 1850 general store next to a cabin featured on “Restoration Road” creates immersive historical experience unavailable at chain retailers selling imported “colonial style” décor.

Browse rooms arranged like old-time general store. Discover Kandye’s hand-painted game boards worthy of antique status. Admire Directory artisans’ redware pottery, woven coverlets, and tinware. Learn why Colonial Williamsburg taverns used locked cages. Return in May for Pioneer Days blacksmithing, spinning, and rope-making demonstrations. Book the adjacent log cabin for authentic overnight experience.

At 311 St. Marys Road—where America’s finest traditional craftsmen preserve endangered skills, one heirloom-quality piece at a time.

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