The story
Bassett Furniture was organized in 1901 by J. D. Bassett, Sr., who would go on to serve as chairman of the board of directors well into his later years. He was joined in the venture by his brothers Charles Columbus (C. C.) Bassett and Sam Bassett, along with his brother-in-law Reed L. Stone. The founders initially operated a sawmill and lumber business in Henry County, Virginia, and began making furniture as a way to add value to surplus timber. Their early products, including solid oak bedroom suites, quickly gained popularity and helped establish the company as a major regional manufacturer.
By the late 1920s, several family-operated furniture companies were thriving under different names—including J. D. Bassett Manufacturing Co., W. M. Bassett Furniture Co., and Bassett Furniture Company. Though profitable, these firms were increasingly competing with one another. In 1929, J. D. Bassett, Sr. called a family meeting with his sons, including Doug and Bill Bassett, and urged unity, saying, "I don't believe you can be exceptionally successful in this business if you are divided."
The following year, in 1930, Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. was created through the merger of those three companies. W. M. Bassett—son of J. D. Bassett, Sr.—was named president of the new entity and oversaw its growth into one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the United States.
During World War II, Bassett contributed to the U.S. war effort by producing wooden cargo truck bodies under military contracts, including beds for the GMC CCKW "deuce-and-a-half" trucks. After the war, the company resumed civilian production and expanded into dining and living room furniture, as well as custom upholstery.
Bassett was listed on the over-the-counter market in 1965 under the ticker symbol BSET, later switching to the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (now known as Nasdaq), and through the 1970s and 1980s, it became a national brand recognized for its craftsmanship and range of home furnishings. Facing increased global competition in the 1990s and early 2000s, the company restructured, closing several manufacturing facilities and focusing on quick-turnaround custom upholstery, vertically integrated retail, and U.S.-based production.
Today, Bassett continues to operate as one of the oldest furniture manufacturers in Virginia, maintaining domestic manufacturing operations and a strong retail presence throughout the United States.
From Wikipedia’s article on Bassett Furniture, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.6