White Fine Furniture was founded in 1881 in Mebane, North Carolina by brothers, David A. and William E. White. Their father, Stephen A. White, was the co-founder of Mebane. Unfortunately, he had soiled the family name by acquiring a great amount of debt and his sons vowed to repay their father’s creditors. Thus, was the catalyst behind their venture. It was incorporated as White-Rickel Furniture Company in 1896 but by 1899 Rickel had relinquished his interest and the name was changed to White Furniture Company. They repaid their father’s debts and more. They were always a cutting-edge company and were the first Southern furniture manufacturer to utilize electricity. In 1905 they were awarded a contract with the US government to supply furniture to military personnel working in the Panama Canal. Later supplying furniture for army officers throughout the US and the Far East. They’ve won awards and furnished the famed Grove Park Inn. My research did not uncover when exactly they began calling themselves White FINE Furniture but fine it was. Unfortunately, as with many US furniture and other manufacturers, the 1980s hit hard. They were purchased by Hickory Furniture Company and eventually closed the doors in 1993 after over 100 years of fine furniture building.
