May 17, 2012Jamestown Furniture Exposition Building
Located beside 111 West Second Street
Jamestown’s pre-eminence in the manufacture of wood furniture has its roots in the forests that covered the area in the early 1800’s when it was settled. The earliest wood furniture made its way on rafts via the river system to eager markets as far away as the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
As the 19th century advanced, numerous small furniture factories sprang up. Swedish immigrants played a prominent role in the industry’s reputation for excellence in the late 1800s and early 1900s. During this time, Jamestown was second in the nation (Grand Rapids, Michigan was first) in the manufacture of wood furniture. In order to properly and effectively display and market the furniture, industry leaders erected the Jamestown Furniture Exposition Building in 1916-17. It provided continuous display for locally manufactured furniture. It also hosted the semi-annual Furniture Mart exhibitions, which attracted a national audience of dealers and salesmen until 1982.
The wood furniture industry in Jamestown as declined over the years; however, fine quality wood furniture is still manufactured locally and shipped to an international clientele. The Sullivanesque style building has been converted to professional offices. It is eligible for National Register status.
JAMESTOWN FURNITURE EXPOSITION BUILDING
BUILT TO DISPLAY LOCALLY MANUFACTURED FURNITURE AND TO HOST SEMI-ANNUAL FURNITURE MARTS FOR A NATIONAL AUDIENCE, 1917-1982.