Nichols and Stone

As early as 1762, there was a Nichols Brothers Chair Manufactory in Westminster, Massachusetts. As the country grew, the Nichols' chair business grew, too.

By 1857, it was already an established company that became the benchmark in craftsmanship. At the turn of the century, the business was moved to neighboring Gardner, Massachusetts to gain easier access to the railway. The second of two fires leveled the plant, but adversity was turned into opportunity. An updated brick factory was opened in 1907 by Charles Nichols, with his new partner Reuben Stone, under the name Nichols & Stone.

Nichols and Stone was the sole manufacturer of "The Harvard Chair"during the 20th century, until 1990 when they were sold to outside investors.