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1960 Gravely Furniture launches its first grandmother clock, a shorter version of the grandfather clock. The clock was known as No. 122, the “Lady Norfolk.” Priced at under $200, the clock becomes an overnight success. 1960 J. Clyde Hooker, Jr., the founder’s son, becomes president of Hooker Furniture. He remains president until 2000. 1960 Bassett built the world’s largest chair for Curtis Brothers Furniture Company in Washington, D.C. 1965 Stanley Furniture makes its first acquisition, The Sandhill Furniture Company, in West End, N.C., reputed to be the world’s largest manufacturer of beds. 1967 Stanley Furniture launches its first national advertising campaign. 1968 Hooker Furniture’s net sales total $9.7 million. 1969 Stanley Furniture merges with Mead Corporation, a relationship that lasts until 1979. 1970 Gravely Furniture offers more than 35 different styles of grandfather and grandmother clocks. 1971 Bassett’s net sales reach $144 million 1972 With a series of acquisitions during the 1960s and early ’70s, Bassett has a total of 31 plants nationwide. 1974 American of Martinsville has $62 million in sales. 1975 Gravely Furniture has $13.1 million in sales. 1972 Bassett begins its prime- time television campaign. 1979 American becomes the largest supplier of hotel/motel casegoods in the world. 1981 A.C. Furniture Company, Inc., one of the country’s largest contract manufacturers of seating, is incorporated. 1981 Shenandoah Furniture started with just 12 employees doing contract work for local furniture companies. These contracts led to a major retail contract with Bloomingdales. As demand grew, the company expanded and Shenandoah Furniture relinquished its contract work and became a stand alone furniture manufacturer. 1984 Bassett implements its Gallery Program to aid dealers in presenting furniture to the consumer as it would appear in their home. 1984 To commemorate Stanley’s 60th anniversary, the company introduced the Stoneleigh Mahogany Collection: 18th Century furniture inspired by the original furnishing of the home of Stanley’s founder, Thomas B. Stanley. 1985 Bassett Contract Furnishings is established to target the hotel and motel industry. 1985 Pulaski Furniture buys Gravely Furniture and renames it Ridgeway Clocks. 1986 Bassett produces recliners from its new Bassett Motion Division. 1986 American of Martinsville was acquired by LADD Furniture, Inc., the third largest furniture manufacturer in the United States at the time. 1987 Hooker Furniture purchases a tobacco warehouse in Henry County, and started a separate plywood manufacturing facility that could produce most of the company’s three-ply plywood for internal use. 1960s to 1980s J. C. Hooker (left), founder and first president of Hooker Furniture, receives a gold watch in appreciation of 36 years of leadership from A.F. Hooker on December 23,1960. J. Clyde Hooker, Jr., who serves as president of the company from 1960 to 2000, looks on. Bassett built the world’s largest chair for Curtis Brothers Furniture Company in Washington, D.C. Stanley’s High Point furniture showroom, circa 1960. The company also had permanent exhibits in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Seattle and Stanleytown. A 1967, two-page ad that appeared in Better Homes & Gardens. According to the ad copy, if you don’t see a piece of furniture here that you like, you can write to Stanley and include $1.00 and they will send you information on the 2,078 pieces they make. To commemorate Stanley’s 60th anniversary, the company introduced the Stoneleigh Mahogany Collection: 18th Century furniture inspired by the original furnishing of the home of Stanley’s founder, Thomas B. Stanley. Clay Earles of Martinsville Speedway presents stock car driver Cale Yarborough with a Gravely Furniture clock in the 1970s. It was a long-standing tradition that race winners would receive a locally made clock. Furnishing a Nation: The story of furniture making in Martinsville-Henry County
