Haworth: A History

- 

1940s

> 1948: Industrial arts teacher G.W. Haworth outgrows his home workshop, where he manufactures wooden toys, and construction begins on the first, 4,480-square-foot plant in Holland, Michigan. The move to the new facility is followed by more orders.

> G.W. founds Modern Products, using a loan of $10,000 from his parents’ life savings. He hopes to earn enough money to put his children through college.

> The company’s first wood products include a tie rack and a shoe display.

“The money that started the business was earned the hard way,” says Dick Haworth. “Grandpa went from farm to farm selling Watkins cosmetics and spices; that’s where the money came from. I’m particularly proud of that. It’s a great foundation for a business.”

1950s

> A freelance salesman pitches G.W. a sketch of some proposed bank-type partitions for the United Auto Workers headquarters in Detroit in 1951. G.W.’s first foray into floor to-ceiling movable walls, the X & L series, is realized.

> G.W. considers uses for the scrap material created by the manufacture of partitions, which leads to the production of planters and room dividers in 1955.

> 1956: 50 employees (or “members”) and $472,000 in sales; the company makes an addition to the plant.

> 1959: Modern Partitions, Inc., is formed.

1960s

> 1961: G.W.’s teenage son Dick Haworth sweeps floors and operates plant machinery.

> 1962: Study carrels are launched as a new product line.