The Lewisburg Chair Factory 1887-1931

Birds Eye View Of The Lewisburg Chair Company's Plant

Lewisburg Furniture Company was founded by Horace Cawley in 1887. Pennsylvania House Furniture.  By 2005, La-Z-Boy had purchased the remains of  Pennsylvania House. By the end of that year, they moved the entire production of PA House furniture overseas.

Postcard showing the Lewisburg Chair Company Buildings

"A circa 1910 Josiah Partridge & Sons oak armchair from the Lewisburg, Pennsylvania factory. It displays a lovely, rich wood grain throughout. This piece features bent wood arms, a pierced splat back and a straw filled leather seat. Underside carries original label from the Lewisburg company (established in 1833) and imprinted numbers ‘500 F1617’."

1887 - Lewisburg Furniture Company founded by Horace Cawley 

Prior to 1891 Fire

1891 - Factory Reopened, with stock holders.  Focused wholly on producing bedroom furniture.

1892- Company Purchased by Josiah Partridge for $10,000.  Patridge focused on the production of quality cane bottom chairs. (Josiah Partridge Chair Co. of New York was established in 1848)

1893 - renamed Lewisburg Chair And Furniture Company

1904 Fire

1911 Fire

Closed permanently December 11 1931 [Sort of?]

1933 - Renamed Pennsylvania House Furniture

According to local newspapers, the Lewisburg Chair Factory Closed in 1931.  In the early 1930s, there was a strong push to add a furniture manufacturing division in the Lewisburg Penitentiary, for prisoners to make furniture.  Lewisburg Native, newspaper editor and congressman Benjamin Focht was vocally opposed, saying it would compete with independent furniture companies.

In 1932, the former Burns Co Furniture Store in Northumberland PA was advertised as the Lewisburg Furniture Company.

In 1934, an advertisement congratulating graduated listed the Lewisburg Chair and Furniture Co, Pennsylvania House Furniture.

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