Lodge History Harold Henry: Cast Iron Collector and Lodge Legend By: Lodge Cast Iron / March 17, 2021 With somewhere over 5,000 pieces of cast iron cookware in his collection, Harold Henry is a keeper of our history E-mail this page Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Twitter Print this page In a sunny corner of Hamilton, Missouri, a retired livestock auctioneer named Harold Henry is cooking up an incredible second act. “I don’t buy and sell cast iron. I buy cast iron. And I keep it,” Harold laughs. "Collecting cast iron is a little bit addictive.” Harold is a well-known and well-loved cast iron cookware collector, and his assortment of pieces has been growing steadily for over twenty years. But just how many pieces of cast iron are we talking about? “I’ve been saying for a few years it’s around 4,000 but my kids tell me it’s over [5000],” Harold says. Harold’s collection grew out of the simple joy of cooking with cast iron. “I started buying Lodge and using it before I started collecting it,” he says. “The most-used item in my house is a number 10 Lodge skillet. It’s used about every day.” Harold houses his expansive collection on his family property in Hamilton, where he still works as a farmer. In nooks and crannies across the farm, in store rooms and spare bedrooms, you’ll find his immense collection—and every piece comes with a story. His prized cast iron spans generations, foundries and uses, from skillets to baking tins and even antique irons. “Some [pieces], there’s no way to identify. It’s kind of a mystery that will probably never be solved. Mystery makes it a lot more fun,” he says. And while many of his favorite pieces are Lodge, he also collects from the now-closed foundries that once helped create the American cast iron tradition. “I’ve read that there were 265 or 270 different companies that made cast iron cookware in America. And there’s one that survived. And that’s Lodge. A lot of the companies just gave up! But not Lodge. That’s what I call ‘survival instinct.’” For Harold, collecting cast iron has been as much about finding prized pieces of American history as it has been about community. “I’ve met a lot of wonderful people in this cast iron business, and they’re all over the country, and we help each other,” Harold says. “Of course sometimes we get to be competitors, but that’s part of the business,” he adds with a smile. Harold is a favorite visitor and local celebrity at our South Pittsburg foundry. And that love? It’s entirely mutual. “I’ve made a lot of trips here over the years, and I’ve talked to the employees, and I can tell, a lot of them feel like they’re part of the family. And that’s not an accident.” Harold says. “Me, as a collector, I feel like I’m part of the family. It’s like coming home, coming home to visit.” How Lodge Began Seasoning Cast Iron When Lodge first started making cast iron 125 years ago, it wasn’t sold seasoned and ready to use like it is today. The History of Lodge's Skillet & Egg Logo In 1973 Lodge created its first official logo. At the time no one imagined the simple black skillet frying a single egg would become an iconic symbol of American-made cast iron cookware. Our Signature Teardrop Handle The Lodge product catalog has changed numerous times in our 125 years of business, but there’s one design element that appears in every single one of them... Black Changemaker Gus Hyatt Remembered for Unparalleled Career at Lodge When you take a look at the life of legendary Lodge employee, Gus Hyatt, it would be easy to say that cast iron was in his blood. Ode to a Cornstick Pan The cast iron cornstick pan has quite the legacy. As a visually unique object, the sight of a cornstick pan tends to stir memories, whether it belonged to a parent, grandparent, or simply hung on a wall as decoration. Curious about the love for this pan, we spoke to some members of our community about their own cornstick pans. Contributed By: Lodge Cast Iron We hope you enjoy our stories and recipes! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and tag your Instagram food photos with #lodgecastiron for a chance to be featured on our feed! Get $10 off any $50+ order!* While you're shopping, become a Pan Fan today and sign up for our newsletter! *Coupon code will be sent to your email after you sign up for our newsletter! New sign ups only. Sign Up By submitting your information, you are agreeing to Lodge Cast Iron’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Please try again.
Lodge History Harold Henry: Cast Iron Collector and Lodge Legend By: Lodge Cast Iron / March 17, 2021 With somewhere over 5,000 pieces of cast iron cookware in his collection, Harold Henry is a keeper of our history E-mail this page Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Twitter Print this page In a sunny corner of Hamilton, Missouri, a retired livestock auctioneer named Harold Henry is cooking up an incredible second act. “I don’t buy and sell cast iron. I buy cast iron. And I keep it,” Harold laughs. "Collecting cast iron is a little bit addictive.” Harold is a well-known and well-loved cast iron cookware collector, and his assortment of pieces has been growing steadily for over twenty years. But just how many pieces of cast iron are we talking about? “I’ve been saying for a few years it’s around 4,000 but my kids tell me it’s over [5000],” Harold says. Harold’s collection grew out of the simple joy of cooking with cast iron. “I started buying Lodge and using it before I started collecting it,” he says. “The most-used item in my house is a number 10 Lodge skillet. It’s used about every day.” Harold houses his expansive collection on his family property in Hamilton, where he still works as a farmer. In nooks and crannies across the farm, in store rooms and spare bedrooms, you’ll find his immense collection—and every piece comes with a story. His prized cast iron spans generations, foundries and uses, from skillets to baking tins and even antique irons. “Some [pieces], there’s no way to identify. It’s kind of a mystery that will probably never be solved. Mystery makes it a lot more fun,” he says. And while many of his favorite pieces are Lodge, he also collects from the now-closed foundries that once helped create the American cast iron tradition. “I’ve read that there were 265 or 270 different companies that made cast iron cookware in America. And there’s one that survived. And that’s Lodge. A lot of the companies just gave up! But not Lodge. That’s what I call ‘survival instinct.’” For Harold, collecting cast iron has been as much about finding prized pieces of American history as it has been about community. “I’ve met a lot of wonderful people in this cast iron business, and they’re all over the country, and we help each other,” Harold says. “Of course sometimes we get to be competitors, but that’s part of the business,” he adds with a smile. Harold is a favorite visitor and local celebrity at our South Pittsburg foundry. And that love? It’s entirely mutual. “I’ve made a lot of trips here over the years, and I’ve talked to the employees, and I can tell, a lot of them feel like they’re part of the family. And that’s not an accident.” Harold says. “Me, as a collector, I feel like I’m part of the family. It’s like coming home, coming home to visit.” How Lodge Began Seasoning Cast Iron When Lodge first started making cast iron 125 years ago, it wasn’t sold seasoned and ready to use like it is today. The History of Lodge's Skillet & Egg Logo In 1973 Lodge created its first official logo. At the time no one imagined the simple black skillet frying a single egg would become an iconic symbol of American-made cast iron cookware. Our Signature Teardrop Handle The Lodge product catalog has changed numerous times in our 125 years of business, but there’s one design element that appears in every single one of them... Black Changemaker Gus Hyatt Remembered for Unparalleled Career at Lodge When you take a look at the life of legendary Lodge employee, Gus Hyatt, it would be easy to say that cast iron was in his blood. Ode to a Cornstick Pan The cast iron cornstick pan has quite the legacy. As a visually unique object, the sight of a cornstick pan tends to stir memories, whether it belonged to a parent, grandparent, or simply hung on a wall as decoration. Curious about the love for this pan, we spoke to some members of our community about their own cornstick pans. Contributed By: Lodge Cast Iron We hope you enjoy our stories and recipes! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and tag your Instagram food photos with #lodgecastiron for a chance to be featured on our feed!
