Holland in Ottawa County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
West Michigan Furniture Company Building
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 13, 2015
1. West Michigan Furniture Company Building Marker
In 1889 Frank W. Hadden, George P. Hummer and Frank Metz founded the West Michigan Furniture Company in Holland. The company produced only bedroom and dining room furniture, which was sold by a twenty-five-member sales force throughout the U.S. and parts of Canada and Mexico. In 1906 the firm created the Engel Lumber and Land Company in Louisiana, which supplied raw material to the Michigan plant. Hummer and his descendants ran the Holland business from 1889 to 1975.
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The West Michigan Furniture Company was the first large-scale furniture manufacturer in Holland, and the plant was the first local factory with electric lights. This enabled workers to adhere to a ten-hour work day. During the 1890s, a period of national recession, the company employed 20 percent of Holland's work force, even through the worst economic troubles. In 1899 employment peaked at 635 people. This office is the only structure remaining of the manufacturing complex.
Erected 1993 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1840.)
Topics and series. This historical marker
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 13, 2015
2. West Michigan Furniture Company Building Marker
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Location. 42° 47.42′ N, 86° 6.972′ W. Marker is in Holland, Michigan, in Ottawa County. Marker is on W. 8th Street, 0.1 miles east of Washington Blvd.. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 195 W 8th St, Holland MI 49423, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Cappon House / Isaac Cappon (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); First United Methodist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Third Reformed Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hope Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Tower Clock (approx. 0.4 miles away); Kraker (approx. 0.4 miles away); Holland Post Office (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dutch in Michigan (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Holland.
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 13, 2015
3. West Michigan Furniture Company Building Marker
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 13, 2015
4. West Michigan Furniture Company Building Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2018, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,649 times since then and 252 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 28, 2018, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
