Florida Furniture Industries

History of Florida Furniture Industries

The Wilson Cypress and Selden Cypress Door Companies

Florida Furniture Industries’ origins date back to October 15, 1891, when Henry S. Wilson and A. E. Wilson, two brothers from Saginaw, Michigan, purchased the Tilghman Company mill from Noah J. Tilghman & Sons, establishing the Tilghman-Wilson Company. The name changed to the Wilson Cypress Company on April 15, 1898. At the turn of the century, it was the second-largest cypress mill in the world, producing 80,000 feet of lumber and 60,000 shingles daily and employing over 600 people. At this time, the company also owned more than 100,000 acres of original-growth cypress across 10 counties in Northern Florida.

Two subsidiary companies opened under the Wilson Cypress Company: the Davis Tank Factory and the Selden Cypress Door Company. Established in 1895 by George Beckwith Selden, the complex included a sash, door, and blind factory, a planing mill, a carpenter shop, a door kiln, and an elevated trestle that connected directly to the Wilson Cypress Company’s sawmill. It also featured an “unusually elaborate and effective” fire extinguishing system made up of automatic sprinklers, hose connections, and chemical extinguishers that covered the entire plant.

The company primarily manufactured items such as doors, sashes, blinds, moulding, window frames, and greenhouse materials. While it also maintained a smaller department dedicated to wood paneling, the bulk of its inventory was distributed across the Northeastern United States, with major markets in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey.

George B. Selden was a native of New York and was involved in the lumber business there before moving to Palatka. He served as Chairman of the Bond Trustees of the County Commissioners of Putnam County and was later elected as president of the Palatka Board of Trade. He also served as president of the Putnam County Good Roads Association, which advocated for improved roads in rural parts of the nation. The plant operated under Selden’s management until his retirement in 1915; the reason for his retirement, according to Selden, was a “disagreement with the stockholders…“

Following his departure, Selden’s secretary, Howard Lane Gardner, was promoted to manager of the plant. Six years later, Gardner was made president of the company, which was experiencing unprecedented success during the land boom. By 1929, the company had transitioned to the manufacturing of portable houses and garages known as “Redi-Cut” houses, as the demand for doors plummeted after the economy crashed.

Florida Furniture Industries Inc.

During this period, Gardner partnered with seasoned furniture designer Fount H. Rion to incorporate the Selden Manufacturing Company, initially producing outdoor items like rocking chairs and park benches. Though the venture began with only ten employees, it underwent a major reorganization in 1935 to become Florida Furniture Industries, Inc. Shifting its focus toward the higher demand for kitchen, bedroom, and dining room sets, the company utilized local resources by crafting its pieces exclusively from Florida hardwoods, including ash, maple, poplar, bay, and red gum.

The Wilson Cypress Company shut down its operations on December 5, 1944, but wouldn’t formally dissolve until 1983. Despite the closure of the Wilson Cypress Company, Florida Furniture continued to grow, focusing exclusively on bedroom sets following World War II. At its peak, the company employed over 650 people and was producing around 2,000 bedroom sets every week.

Decline, Closure, and Abandonment

The company’s decline began in the late 1990s, driven by intense foreign competition that undercut prices for comparable goods. This financial strain was further exacerbated by the economic downturn following the September 11 attacks, which ultimately served as the final blow to the business. By May 2002, manufacturing operations were suspended, leaving the company to liquidate its remaining inventory.

Soon after, they filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Manufacturing resumed on October 30 and ran for six weeks before shutting down indefinitely on December 13, 2002, two days after losing its bankruptcy court case. Much of the facility was demolished, and only a small portion of the 400,000 square foot manufacturing plant remains there today. On December 19, 2021, a fire destroyed much of the building and is suspected to have been an act of arson.

Several parcels that comprised a majority of the Wilson Cypress Mill, totaling over 80 acres, were purchased for redevelopment. A large-scale community is planned for the property, including homes, hotels, agriculture and arts campuses, biking trails, museums, and more. The redevelopment plan is a partnership between Jacoby Development, Marineland Aquaponics, and the Opportunity Zone Fund.

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