Durham Furniture, 100th Anniversary

Furniture World Magazine

Several thousand people from all over south-western Ontario converged upon the town of Durham on a sunny weekend in September to help Orville Mead, President of Durham Furniture, and his staff of almost 400 proudly celebrate the companies 100th anniversary. Hundreds toured the extensive plant from kilns to finished product, shepherded by employees who described the combination of state-of-the-art technology and hands-on, time-honoured craftsmanship. Back in 1899, the town purchased a six acre site, still the location of the factory, for $500 and a 70,000 square foot three storey structure was built. Durham prospered, expanded and survived fire, wars, and the depression. Kroehler Manufacturing of Naperville, Illinois, purchased Durham in 1954 and over the next 24 years added more buildings and more machinery. In 1979, the Strathearn House Group of Toronto bought Durham and installed Orville Mead as President. Unfortunately, the 1980s were not kind to the furniture industry in Canada. The recession, the high Canadian dollar, high interest rates and free trade all worked to reduce the number of employees in the furniture industry by 50 percent, and in February 1992, the Group went into receivership, taking Durham along with it. But by June of that same year, unsinkable Durham, headed by Orville, resurfaced. By 1994, sales began to increase dramatically and warehousing and shipping was relocated to Hanover. In 1998, an additional plant was purchased in Chesley, Ontario, already in an expansion programme. The factory is completely computerized, sales continue to surge, and the employee roster now hovers around 400. The Durham name is well known across North America for Trillium award winning design, integrity and quality in solid wood casegoods, particularly now in the bedroom furniture arena. Steve Hodges, designer of Durham's line since 1994 said, "Without a doubt, the greatest experience of my career has been being a part of the phenomenal success of Durham Furniture, an achievement unprecedented in the history of the North American furniture industry." Orville Mead believes "this story of long life can be expressed in a tribute to all the people who have produced this fine furniture over these 100 years." He thanked, too, customers, supplier and sales representatives "who have supported us through thick and thin." He added, "In my 40 years with the company, I have never been more excited about the positive future for Durham Furniture."