A stitch in time: Dalton reupholsterer retiring after 30 years
PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA McCUNE | DGKN
John Cumpston, who has owned the reupholstery shop, Miracles Happen, the past 30 years in downtown Dalton will be retiring and closing shop this fall.
DALTON To the left of John Cumpston as he works on an industrial sewing machine while a Christian movie plays quietly in the background, a bumper sticker on the desk reads: “Old upholsterers never die, they always recover.”
Considering Cumpston and the reupholstery business that he and his late wife, Barb, built the past 30 years, this saying has more than one meaning.
More than three decades ago, when Cumpston went to Wooster to apply for his vendor’s license, he had recently become sober after struggling for years with alcoholism. Filling out the form to obtain the license he came to the line where he had to put the name of his new business. He was forced to think of a name on the spot, and he quickly came up with one: “Miracles Happen.”
In the small shop at 33 W Main Street in the heart of downtown, miracles have happened. Not only with the thousands of items – some considered antiques and of great sentimental value – that have been made new again, but with people who have walked through the doorway.
Turning 69 this year, and since he lost his wife of 35 years in 2019, Cumpston is ready to close shop. He is not taking any new orders. He plans to be out the last day of September.
Congratulations John. You and Barb were a great team. God bless you!
Congratulations John, you and Barb worked so hard to build and keep your business going. God Bless you with an enjoyable and restful retirement.