While this is being brought to our attention, it might be interesting
to review the history and learn something of another industry in our village,
which started here when business, and the affairs of our village were at
their lowest ebb; when real estate could be bought for one's own figure;
with scores of empty houses and men going away for employment. The
founder of this industry came here, and without any excitement started
the wheels going, which had been running intermittently, and for
some months previous had been lying idle. It is doubtful if at the
time these works were again started one-half of the inhabitants knew that
they were again in operation. Without any solicitation on the part
of the citizens, or any concession or consideration, these works were put
in operation, and since January, 1902, they have been running continuously
with only a break of a day or two at the most, necessitated by repairs
and improvements.
These works have been trebled in size and capacity. The equipment,
which is the latest of its kind, and the best obtainable, has entirely
replaced what the original factory contained. This plant, aside from
the fact that it is of frame construction, is a model from the stand point
of fire protection and heating facilities. Not less than $8,000.00
has been expended on fire protection and heating equipment alone, so that
as a woodworking plant, it is no longer a fire menace to the village, for
under ordinary conditions it would be impossible to destroy it by fire.
This factory gives employment to over one hundred people (while during
the busy seasons when at its fullest, there have been one hundred twenty-five
on the pay roll), paying good wages and large salaries to its heads of
departments. "A prophet is not without honor save in his own country,"
but if any of the citizens of Fayetteville will make it a point to go to
any of the high-class furniture or department stores from the Atlantic
to the Pacific and ask for Handcraft Furniture, you may see the product
of the works at Fayetteville made by L. & J. G. Stickley. Through
extensive advertising this furniture has not only made a name in this country,
but inquiries are received from all quarters of the globe. Goods have been
shipped direct to South Africa, Germany, Honolulu and Italy, and at present
there are inquiries on file from Cairo, Egypt, Manila, Russia, Sweden and
other countries, to say nothing of the goods which have been exported by
dealers in New York and elsewhere.
The line of furniture built by L. & J. G. Stickley comprises over
three hundred patterns, the style and design being carefully worked
out by Mr. L. Stickley, and his able designer Mr. P. Hansen, who received
his education on designing in Germany, his native country. The details
of this establishment are countless. Were it not for the fact that
the entire workings are under a perfect system, it would be difficult to
conceive of building and filling orders on this great number of different
patterns of furniture. Space will not permit going into detail regarding
the finish of the wood: processes of finishing, originated by
the proprietor himself, many of them being copied by competitors, but none
being able to reproduce. The seating furniture is covered in the
best grade of goat skins and steer hide. This leather is purchased
from the tanners in the russet, or unfinished state, and is dyed and colored
by secret processes, also discovered by Mr. L. Stickley. It is interesting
to know that the amount of leather purchased each year exceeds the cost
of lumber, and an idea can be had of what this amounts to by looking over
the lumber yard, and when you know that quartered oak lumber sells for
$85.00 per thousand feet, and that a car of lumber costs more than $1,000.00.
The depression in business, which everyone has felt for the last two
years, has hardly been noticed by this concern; in fact business of each
year since it began operations shows an increase over the preceding
year. The citizens of Fayetteville may be justly proud of this industry,
and it is well to be informed that the famous Handcraft Furniture is manufactured
in our town.