Our History
Durham Furniture got its start in the late 1890s, as a community initiative to provide employment for the Town of Durham’s young people. A group of businesspeople raised more than $10,000 in capital from local citizens and secured an interest-free loan and other concessions from the town council. The Town purchased a six-acre site on Lambton Street for $500, which remains the present site of Durham Furniture today.
The new company’s first shipment took place on Feb. 5, 1900 – a consignment of unfinished furniture sent to a Mr. Brentall of Manchester England. The first 32 employees earned wages of seven cents an hour for a 10-hour day.
Disaster struck in 1905 when fire ripped through the factory. All was lost but the dry kiln and the boiler, which were constructed separate form the main building. The town of Durham rallied in the face of such devastation and proceeded to rebuild the plant. In 1910. A 21,000 sqft addition was added to the main factory allowing the company to expand its product offering.
T. Eaton Company provided a steady source of demand for the products, which were sold across the country through the popular Eaton’s catalogue.
Durham Furniture’s reputation for fine quality furniture grew over the years. In 1948, Eaton’s commissioned the company to produce a gift for the newly married Princess Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh. The result was the solid maple paneling and specially designed furniture in the “Canadian Room” in Clarence House, the young couple’s home in London, England.
After Elizabeth was crowned Queen of England, the furniture was dispersed to Buckingham Palace and other royal residences and much of the paneling was re-installed aboard the royal yacht Britannia Read the August 13, 1999 letter to Durham Furniture from The Queen on the "occasion of the centenary of the Company in September of (1999)."
In the 1950s, Durham Furniture was purchased by U.S.-based Kroehler Manufacturing, the largest furniture manufacturing company in the world at that time. In 1979, Strathearn House Group of Toronto purchased Kroehler’s Canadian division. When Strathearn entered receivership in 1992, a committed group of towns people stepped forward to once again secure the Town of Durham’s economic future. Led by Durham-born Orville Mead they raised funds locally to purchase the company from the Receiver.
Durham Furniture Inc. was launched on June 22, 1992 and has today regained its position as one of North America's leading manufacturers of solid wood fine furniture. 2019 Durham Furniture had a year long celebration commemorating 120 years, both here at home and at the High Point Market.
Durham Furniture remains locally owned and active in the community participating and supporting events and organizations.
