Home, Sweet Home

February 13, 1942, Menasha Record

Menasha Furniture, from its primo, central location "on the square," gives us the mid-century version of the domestic "American dream"- the doting wife lighting her husband's pipe while he sits in his easy chair, book by his side.  In another panel, she might even bring him a cocktail.  Printed in February, 1942, America had only recently gotten into the war and the sober reality of subsequent months and years would be too many easy chairs filled with family dogs awaiting the return of their masters.  Mrs. American Dream might be at work in a factory, longing for the day when she could resume a scene like this.  Meanwhile, "Home, Sweet Home" would come to symbolize a world worth fighting for, for every man and woman who accepted the call to help fight for our freedom.