Grand Rapids Furniture Company History

Brown and john c.

Grand rapids furniture company history.

Click the history grand rapids logo at the left to. Sligh founded the company in 1880 after working for berkey gay as a finisher and traveling salesman in 1874. Gunn folding bed co. Grand rapids furniture factories in 1909 the first annual report of the michigan department of labor in 1910 was a volume over 500 pages.

Tom handley hired as staff designer. Plant expands to include former grand rapids piano case factory next door. Century purchased by r. An engaging exploration of the industry that gave grand rapids its nickname.

Company operates as a subsidiary of sligh lowery but continues to produce furniture under the grand rapids chair name. Incorporated the following year. Founded by partners david s. Company completes a new factory at 1101 godfrey avenue sw.

Made possible through a generous grant by the furniture manufacturers heritage advised fund grand rapids community foundation furniture city history is a sister site to history grand rapids. Gunn adds a retail furniture department to his hardware business. Firm is purchased by baker furniture co but furniture is still produced under the grand rapids chair name. Among the many interesting statistics were michigan furniture companies and the number of employees.

Johnson brothers begin johnson furniture co. In 1883 charles r. Murray president of murray furniture company and designer david l. Is established and incorporated.

Johnson handley johnson organized as a companion company utilizing the same factory showrooms and officers as johnson furniture co. Grand rapids michigan successor to gunn folding bed co. Incorporated as the century furniture company after the death of rickenbaugh. Grand rapids has always been known for it s fine furniture and in 1876 grand rapids was recognized for being the leading furniture manufacturer in the world and to this day it is still the leading manufacturer of office furniture worldwide.

The grand rapids companies and the number of their employees have been excerpted from the report. Company purchased by edsko hekman and a group of associates. The man considered the main instigator of grand rapids furniture industry was william haldane who came to the city from ohio and opened one of its first cabinet shops in 1836. Sligh traveled to central america and established the honduras mahogany co which purchased mahogany timber in honduras cut it in new orleans and shipped it to grand rapids.

More information about the history and heritage of the furniture industry in grand rapids is also available on the grand rapids public museum website.