When Grandma asks for a “davenport,” she isn’t calling for something exotic—just speaking in a language steeped in history. In America’s early 1900s, the A. H. Davenport Company of Cambridge, Massachusetts, crafted elegant, boxy sofas—often upholstered and luxurious enough to double as beds. Their popularity was so vast that “davenport” became a household shorthand for any couch or sofa, especially in Midwestern and Great Lakes communities.
Unlike plush modern sofas built for lounging, these early davenports were more upright and compact—perfect for sitting gracefully in formal rooms. Meanwhile, “davenport” also refers to a British writing desk with a hinged top and side drawers—but that’s an entirely different story.
So when Grandma mentions that old word, she’s not just naming furniture—she’s summoning the comfort of past generations, where form and function met elegance, and where every cushion whispered stories of home.
