Page 100 - Poat_to_Poot_Engels

Lumber and Furniture in Grand Rapids

Thousands of square miles of
land were stripped of trees
and hundreds of millions of
trees were floated down river
to Grand Rapids for cutting.
The lumber business was
beginning to decline in the
1890s. Most of the trees,
wildlife and game animals
had dissappeared from the
cleared land.

The Widdicomb
furniture factory
about 1900. It was
one of the largest of
the many famous
manufacturers in
Grand Rapids.

The Stickley Brothers factory
was smaller, but famous for
its well crafted furniture.
Their line of “Quaint
American Furniture”, also
known as Arts and Crafts or
Mission Style is now highly
sought by collectors.