The ground-breaking pioneer spirit was evident in the Harden family long before a single piece of furniture was ever produced. The company's originator, Charles S. Harden, Sr., was born to a family who moved into the unbroken wilderness of Verona, NY in the 1800s. Charles eventually headed west in search of adventure - and gold. Finding none, Harden decided to move his family back to New York State, settling in McConnellsville and purchasing a sawmill on Fish Creek. His son Frank S. started working in the sawmill as soon as he was able. After much discussion, Charles and Frank thought there was a need for some well-built kitchen chairs, so they set up shop and started production. At first just a sideline, furniture manufacturing became their sole business in 1884. By the 1930s, when Harry Harden became president of the company, Harden was a full-fledged furniture manufacturer. Still, the ever-changing furniture industry presented the firm with many challenges. Harry was one of the chief proponents of producing furniture using native black cherry hardwood as their prime case goods wood; up until that time, mahogany, maple and birch were used. During World War II, little or no furniture was manufactured at Harden. Instead, Harden joined the rest of the country in the war effort, producing items such as gun stock. After Harry's sudden death in 1950, Harry's brother, Charles H. Harden (president of Camden Wire), became president. In 1955, Harry's son, Dave, was elected president of Harden Furniture and remained in that position until 1992, nurturing the formal 18th century hand-carved line while developing more contemporary and time-popular Colonial designs. Today, the fifth generation of ownership/management is overseen by Dave's son, Greg, who was elected CEO in 1992. Greg has made some daring moves, developing several new collections, from European Interpretations and Natural Transitions, to Tapestry and H.O.M.E. Guide. As the family legacy endures, Harden Furniture continues to grow and change in order to best serve those customers who desire fine furniture from generation to generation...at just the right price. The history of a community. One of the characteristics that makes Harden so unique is that it is a truly family-owned, family-operated company. Not only is the Harden family 5-generations-old, but a lot of the employees go back five generations in the company. Why such loyalty? From the very beginning, Frank's concern for his employees and the village in which they lived was reflected in the construction of churches, a community house, and several homes for the employees. This tradition has continued over the years, with the building of a fire department, golf course, and a new post office completed in 1995.