History of Ward Furniture - Mid Century Modern Dressers Circa 1960s

 Ward Furniture CO

There are a plethora of mid century dressers, nightstands, tables, etc. out in the marker that are marked Ward Furniture. I never gave it much thought because Ward is not a well known name...I kind of thought they were distributed or made for Montgomery Ward or something like that. I was wrong.

 

Ward Furniture CO in Durham, NC is a private company  established in 1948 and incorporated in North Carolina. They are still in business today.

My favorite line that they produced for the mid century market are the angled / louvered drawer series that you can see below. American of Martinsville also has a high quality louvered series where the louvers are smaller.

Ward made lower quality and mid quality dressers (high quality compared to the cam and press board stuff we have today) for the time. They were massed produced in a price point that was affordable for most households which is why there are so many of them still hanging around.

Although I see a ton of these dressers, I still love them. They aren't rare but they are unique in style. They set a tone for any room which is what mid century style is all about.   

6 drawer Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Upright Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

9 Drawer Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Painted Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Upright Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern 9 drawer Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dressers Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dressers Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Angled / Louvered Drawers Mid Century Modern Dresser Circa 1960s - Ward Furniture

Alma Desk Company - Alma Architectural Series - Mid Century Moden

From personal experience I can tell you these credenzas are "stupid" heavy - quality made and really lovely, trying to move one just makes me angry. Not to take away from their sleek appearance, they are amazing mid century items that are high quality, but heavier than a steel tanker desk. They will last several lifetimes if you don't die trying to get it into place : )

HISTORY 

One of the first companies to manufacture furniture in High Point was the A. A. Barker Company in 1881. The company was purchased by A. O. Redding in 1895 and named Alma after his deceased daughter. In 1904 brothers Charles, Daniel, and John Hayworth founded the Hayworth Roll and Panel Company. It was first veneer and plywood manufacturer in North Carolina.  

Charles Hayworth purchased Alma Furniture Company from the estate of Redding in 1926 and converted the company to the manufacture of desks so as not to compete with the customers of the Hayworth Roll and Panel company. Charles Hayworth died in 1929. The company was managed by his widow Myrtle Hayworth Barthmaier until 1957 when his son Charles Hayworth, Jr. assumed the presidency. She remained Chairman of the Board until her death. The company employed more than 1500 people at its peak. It ran into trouble after a failed leveraged buyout in 1991 and was liquidated in bankruptcy in 1993.

Hayworth Roll and Panel Company continues to operate a lumber yard. It is all that remains of the Alma Desk Company family of businesses. It was purchased from the Bankruptcy Court by the present owner.

Alma Architectural Credenza - Mid Century Modern

Alma Architectural Credenza - Mid Century Modern

Alma Architectural Credenza - Mid Century Modern

Alma Architectural Credenza - Mid Century Modern