Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-18
GEN OF THE CITY
Grand Rapids Points with Con-
scious Pride 10 Her
GREAT FURNITURE INDUSTRY
Some Accounts OF It's Early Beginnings.
With Special Mention Of Kepss-
sentative Establishments.

William Haldsne was the pioneer
cabinet maker of Grand Rapids. eom-
ing IN 1885. and was soon followed by
Archibald Salmon, Samuel +. Butler
Azd Aoram Smiley. All of these did
their work by hand. and catered exelu-
slyely 10 the local trsde-residents Of
the village and surrounding country.
Mr. Haldane, however. IN 1888, intro
duced some rude machinery, and the
frat Grand Rapids steam engine was
built By Eilhu smith To drive il. Will
ham I. Powers came IN 1917 from New
Hampshire, and IN ISIS began the
EIanufacture OF bedsteads, employing
two men, circular saw, = lathe aud u
boring machine. The hrm OF Powers
q Ball was organized IN 1851, aud IA a
lew years vas doing business OF $780,
otO per annun, shipping by river and
lake, as we'll as selling AT home.
In 1870 Winchester Brothers en-
gagged IL the same BUSINESS, and
httle later cn MIR. Haldanc
retired. Dir. Powers followed SUIT IL
January, 1897, when Bail, NOyes &
Colby succeeded Powers & Ball; cut the
new urn went 10 the wall few mouths
later, when Mr.. Powers bought them
cut aud continued the business until
early IN the '0os, when re dropped .
for good. MeaoEme William A. Berksy
came here and began the manufacture
OF -asn, blinds, etc. bot failed, anu
subsequently, joined his brother Julius,
and Others ID the making Of furniture
UGder the style OF Beskey Bros. Il Co.,
Elias Matter helng a member OF the
rrn4. M.. George ". Gay came III
three years alterwarsl and Mr.. Matter
went out William A. Berkey retired
alter slx years. tls old Trm brcU..iing
the BeTSey & Gay Furniture company,
Nnlle Nlll.ani \. BetSey organized
the Phoenix. By this unte iHe indus
try was lTniiy establish a., but
something Was needed To bring
the output OF Grand Rapids
factories ~ the notice OF mank al at
large That something app asrd IA tie
shape OF the CenLeuul.tl eXloslt.oa,
where - SDlcuiht exBlbst was made,
and the name aud falnr OF the Valley
CRY At once spread throughout tie
civilized woEid. The furniture in,iustry
OF tins city has since ADVANCED with
giant strides, Piil II Is claimed shat IN
TINS branch OF manufacture she mas 40
rival, whether rs regards the excellence
gnd beauty or the Y. lume and value of
output. There - ample scope here for
indefinite EXPANSION. aud with
cheap transportation OF materials
and flashed goods sucn rs
can b. furnished only by
4 deep water channel TO Lake Mlchl-
kan, there - good reason ~ believe that
the achievements Of the past merely
h.nt ~ what the future may bring
forth. On the first OF January last the
number os furniture factories IN Grand
Rapids was 40; number of employees,
G.5iS; capital employed. 81, l60. 800;
value OF product for the year, sI0.0lO,-
900. There mas doubtless been great
increase during the past year, but 1t 10
impossible to obtain the exact figures
at TINS time.
Toe Furniture association has asked
{ 1000 square feet OF space al the
Columbian words fair, aud II they OBJ
tain d will make such on exhibit as
never was seen before on either side of
the Atlantic.