Grand Rapids Furniture Company History

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

Grand rapids furniture company history. Company operates as a subsidiary of sligh lowery but continues to produce furniture under the grand rapids chair name. A large smokestack is visible at the left. Is established and incorporated. Grand rapids chair co.

Charles sligh began working in furniture production in 1862. Firm is purchased by baker furniture co but furniture is still produced under the grand rapids chair name. The technological improvements of railroads and the steam engines would transform the grand rapids furniture industry and economy. Grand rapids fancy furniture company.

The three story factory with rows of evenly spaced windows displays the name of the company across the front of the building. Company changes name to the gunn furniture co. Grand rapids michigan is one of the most well known places for furniture manufacturing in the united states and is even referred to as furniture city the furniture city is known for manufacturing fine furniture and shipping it worldwide. Description grand rapids michigan.

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. The furniture industry of grand rapids had its birth in the system prevailing eighty or more years ago in the smaller towns throughout the country. Grand rapids furniture history. Company merges with kelvinator detroit mich.

Some refrigerators are manufactured under the name northern refrigerator co. They timed their exhibits to coincide with the annual furniture exhibitions in grand rapids and furniture buyers began visiting jamestown on their way to grand rapids. No further expositions were held however until 1910. Between 1910 and 1917 furniture manufacturers began to exhibit their wares regularly in their factories and in hotels.

The youngest son of a war widow and his brother also away at war the responsibility of providing an income to the household and supporting his mother and sisters fell to sligh who started work as an employee at berkey gay then a leading furniture company in grand rapids michigan. Furniture company 1883 1926. The pioneer cabinet maker williaim haldane other early workmen history of the development progress by years. Company purchased by edsko hekman and a group of associates.

Gunn adds a retail furniture department to his hardware business. Grand rapids furniture gained its worldwide reputation for the quality of furniture at the philadelphia centennial in 1876 which strengthened the local economy and put grand rapids on the map. Incorporated the following year. Name changes to kelvinator leonard co.

Brief history and description.