Grand Rapids Furniture Company History

Company purchased by edsko hekman and a group of associates.

Grand rapids furniture company history. Incorporated as the century furniture company after the death of rickenbaugh. Murray president of murray furniture company and designer david l. Grand rapids michigan successor to gunn folding bed co. 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.

Gunn folding bed co. The grand rapids furniture association created in 1881 was made for purpose of protecting furniture manufacturers and dealers. Click the history grand rapids logo at the left to. Founded by partners david s.

Tom handley hired as staff designer. Johnson handley johnson organized as a companion company utilizing the same factory showrooms and officers as johnson furniture co. Company changes name to the gunn furniture co. Johnson brothers begin johnson furniture co.

An engaging exploration of the industry that gave grand rapids its nickname. Firm is purchased by baker furniture co but furniture is still produced under the grand rapids chair name. Gunn adds a retail furniture department to his hardware business. Company completes a new factory at 1101 godfrey avenue sw.

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. Brown and john c. Plant expands to include former grand rapids piano case factory next door. Century purchased by r.

Is established and incorporated. In 1883 charles r. 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.

Among the many interesting statistics were michigan furniture companies and the number of employees. The grand rapids companies and the number of their employees have been excerpted from the report. Grand rapids furniture factories in 1909 the first annual report of the michigan department of labor in 1910 was a volume over 500 pages. The first companies that would mass produce furniture on the scale the city would become known for opened in the 1850s but it wasn t until the 1870s that this growing industry would receive national and international attention.

Company operates as a subsidiary of sligh lowery but continues to produce furniture under the grand rapids chair name.