This ad appeared in the souvenir book of the United Commercial Travelers convention that was held in Parkersburg in May 1908. (Photo Provided)

INDUSTRIAL NOTES

The Bentley & Gerwig Furniture factory is turning out all kinds of first class furniture, and are running full time and over. They have a large southern trade. Nearly a hundred men are employed here, and the establishment is one of the solid institutions of the city.

Excerpt from The Parkersburg Daily State Journal

May 1889

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Organization of Local Chair Factory Recalled

Have you forgotten?

The birth of the Parkersburg chair factory in the latter eighties? It was in 1889 that one hundred thousand dollars worth of stock were subscribed, Percy Smith getting the very last share. In December of that year, a well-attended at the rooms of the Merchant’s and Manufacturers’ Association in the interests of the factory, marked the beginning of the enterprise.

The meeting that night was so well attended that the room could not accommodate the crowd and the temper of the gathering was such that it could be easily seen that every man there meant business and that every attendant was a business man.

The meeting was called to order by Capt. A. F. Lang, who by unanimous consent, was made the chairman of the evening. Messrs. T. P. Jeffrey, C. D. Merrick, and G. L. Hendershot were appointed as the secretaries, and the meeting proceeded to business.

On motion of Col. W. N. Chancellor, the secretaries were requested to ascertain from the members of the soliciting committee, the total amount subscribed up to date. This was done and the sum total was found to be $94,000.

It was then decided that the remainder of the amount required be raised in the room at once. Accordingly, Messrs. R.J.A. Boreman, William Bentley and G. L. Hendershot were appointed a supplemental soliciting committee to raise the necessary amount right then and there. The following persons purchased shares: R.J.A. Boreman, Hardman Bros., Samuel Stewart, B.H. Maulsby, T.J. Miller, A.H. Smith, Gainor Bros., William Bentley and Percy Smith.

Quite a cheer went up and considerable applause was manifested when Percy Smith stepped up and took the last share on the offer being made by Hon. W.N. Chancellor that he would pay $50 to the man who would subscribe for the last share. [A chair factory for the city of Parkersburg had been secured.]

It is interesting to note that all chairs used in both senate and legislature of our West Virginia state capitol building were made at the local factory.

Excerpt from The Parkersburg News

June 4, 1933

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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.