Park Furniture - Rushville Indiana

 

When making furniture was king

Excerpt:

I have fond memories of Rushville when it had three lumber yard/coal yards, four railroads went through town, the city owned the electric utility and the phone company was user owned and operated. The main industry was furniture, with three large manufacturers in town. International was the biggest by far and finally had over 300 employees before it left town. Rushville Furniture was a Lee Endres owned and operated plant on 11th and George in front of International’s office complex. Park Furniture was on 11th and Oliver by the railroad and made cherry bed room furniture basically.

The high school Vocational Department had one of the best wood working vocational programs I have ever seen. I remember many items coming out of that wood working class that were beautiful and wonderfully made. Those young men would in later years work for the local furniture industry. My family even had a cotton processing plant on 7th and Oliver that was basically started because of the furniture industry in town. My brother Gene was hired on after World War II by Carl Niessen and eventually became President of Schnadig Corporation, the latter day owners of International Furniture. The vocational program at the high school was basically directed toward the furniture industry or farming.

Comment: We bought a nice dresser, found on Craigslist, to be used in our master bedroom closet. Guessing 100 years old. Solid but ... nicked up a bit ... about 100 years a bit! Details: Measures 37 inches wide, 21 inches deep, and 47 inches tall. The top drawer measures 33 inches wide and 5 1/2 inches tall. The second drawer measures 33 inches wide and 6 1/2 inches tall. The third drawer measures 33 inches wide and 7 inches tall. The fourth drawer measures 33 inches wide and 7 1/2 inches tall. The bottom drawer measures 33 inches wide and 8 1/2 inches tall. All 5 drawers glide easily and quietly.

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Update on 7/19 from the Rush County Historical Society:

Dear James,

The Park Furniture Factory was in business until 1954, but was sold to an out-of-town company in the mid-1940’s. Your dresser was probably made before that sale date. Hope this helps. Enjoy the dresser.

Sincerely, Libby Smith, museum volunteer