#58 • Colonel Harland Sanders' Personal South Bend Commercial Stove from Blackwood Hall

Part of The Colonel Sanders Artifact Collection (live auction by The Menish Group Auction & Real Estate)

High bid $3,775.00

Status: Sold

Description Offered here is the historic South Bend commercial stove installed in Blackwood Hall, the personal residence of Colonel Harland Sanders on the grounds of the Claudia Sanders Dinner House estate. Unlike equipment from a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant, this stove was located in Sanders' private kitchen, where he entertained guests, developed recipes, and personally instructed franchise operators who traveled to Kentucky to learn directly from him. During the formative years of Kentucky Fried Chicken's expansion, operators from across the United States and abroad visited Blackwood Hall, often staying on the property while receiving firsthand guidance from Sanders. A period photograph published by the Courier Journal shows Colonel Sanders cooking in the Blackwood Hall kitchen. The original commercial hood visible in the photograph remains in place today, and the large cutting-board worktable seen in the image survives as part of the collection. The stove remains substantially intact and reportedly operational, with the exception of two missing oven-door springs. More than a piece of commercial kitchen equipment, this stove represents a surviving artifact from the period when Colonel Sanders personally taught the methods, standards, and philosophy that helped transform Kentucky Fried Chicken into one of the world's most recognized restaurant brands. Provenance Originally installed in Blackwood Hall, the personal residence of Colonel Harland Sanders located on the Claudia Sanders Dinner House property. The stove remained with the property and was preserved by the Settle family, longtime friends of Sanders and recipients of numerous personal gifts from him. Historic photographs document Sanders cooking in the kitchen where the stove remains today. Condition Reportedly operational with the exception of two missing oven-door springs. Displays expected age, wear, and evidence of long-term use consistent with a historic commercial kitchen artifact. Prospective bidders are encouraged to inspect the item personally and review all photographs regarding condition, functionality, completeness, restoration, and transportation requirements.