A few weeks ago, I found myself tagging along with my husband to a Goodwill in Warren, Ohio—honestly, not somewhere I expected to have a “life-changing” moment. I wasn’t even in the mood to shop that day, but as I wandered over to the dishware section, something instantly caught my eye.
Lined up neatly on the shelves were 30 or 40 pieces of the most beautiful china I had ever seen—delicate little flowered bowls, bread plates, sauce dishes, platters, cream and sugar bowls, gravy boats, saucers, and enormous vegetable bowls. Each piece was charming and elegant, with a timeless floral design that looked like it had been waiting decades for the right home.
For years, I had been searching for the perfect china set for our 110-year-old historic home—something with character, history, and a story behind it. And right there in that Goodwill aisle, I knew I had found it.
My husband, curious, picked up one of the pieces and Googled the name stamped on the back: WS George. We learned the company was once located in East Palestine, Ohio—practically in our backyard in Youngstown. That made it even more special. WS George had closed its doors in the 1940s, which meant my set was nearly an antique.
There was just one catch—no dinner plates, and no coffee cups. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I bought every single piece they had—at just 99 cents each—and left the store with the biggest grin on my face.
Over the next few weeks, I scoured Etsy and eBay, tracking down eight matching dinner plates and eight coffee cups. They weren’t as cheap as my Goodwill finds, but when you fall in love with a pattern, practicality takes a backseat. Now, the complete set sits proudly in our dining room, perfectly complementing our pink flowered wallpaper and floral dining chairs.
What started as a reluctant thrift store trip turned into a $40 treasure hunt that brought a little bit of local history into our home. And every time I set the table, I can’t help but smile—because this china set didn’t just match my décor, it matched my heart.
