Grand Rapids Furniture Company History

Gunn adds a retail furniture department to his hardware business.

Grand rapids furniture company history.

The grand rapids companies and the number of their employees have been excerpted from the report. Founded by partners david s. Sligh founded the company in 1880 after working for berkey gay as a finisher and traveling salesman in 1874. Firm is purchased by baker furniture co but furniture is still produced under the grand rapids chair name.

The grand rapids furniture association created in 1881 was made for purpose of protecting furniture manufacturers and dealers. Company changes name to the gunn furniture co. An engaging exploration of the industry that gave grand rapids its nickname. 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. Plant expands to include former grand rapids piano case factory next door. Click the history grand rapids logo at the left to. Incorporated the following year.

Among the many interesting statistics were michigan furniture companies and the number of employees. Gunn folding bed co. Murray president of murray furniture company and designer david l. Johnson brothers begin johnson furniture co.

Brown and john c. Grand rapids furniture factories in 1909 the first annual report of the michigan department of labor in 1910 was a volume over 500 pages. Grand rapids michigan successor to gunn folding bed co. Tom handley hired as staff designer.

In 1883 charles r. 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. Company purchased by edsko hekman and a group of associates. Company operates as a subsidiary of sligh lowery but continues to produce furniture under the grand rapids chair name.

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. More information about the history and heritage of the furniture industry in grand rapids is also available on the grand rapids public museum website. 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 completes a new factory at 1101 godfrey avenue sw.

Century purchased by r.