History

The history of Bernhardt Furniture Company is a saga of opportunities recognized and realized in spite of obstacles and challenges. Today this thriving enterprise is one of the oldest family businesses in America.

After working as a surveyor in the Oregon territory, J.M. Bernhardt returned home to the mountainous region of western North Carolina, where he went to work as a logger. He spent much of his time in the densely forested foothills of Grandfather Mountain.

J.M. Bernhardt was a man with imagination and drive. His legacy includes not only a thriving family enterprise, but also a heritage of perseverance and social responsibility.

John Mathias Bernhardt, founder

America was beginning to take shape in 1860 when the Bernhardt family moved to the western North Carolina town of Lenoir. John Mathias Bernhardt’s rural lifestyle became even more challenging at age 13 when both of his parents died within 60 days of each other. Left to face life as orphans, John and his older brother, Lynn, eventually went to work at a local general store. But unlike his brother, who stayed in the retail trade, John was destined for adventures out west in territory that became the state of Oregon. He secured a job as a government surveyor assisting settlers in the wild frontier, a post that nearly claimed his life. Had it not been for an Indian guide who saved him from a winter bout of pneumonia, J.M . Bernhardt and Bernhardt Furniture Company would not be known to us today.

The early days were not easy days

Upon returning to Lenoir, John found work as a logger and timber cutter—a hard way to make a living. Yet, his diligence paid off, and he became supervisor at the Caldwell Land & Lumber Company.

Oxen were used to move J.M. Bernhardt’s steam engine down Main Street in Lenoir so it could be used in the lumber mill.

Before entering the furniture business, J.M. Bernhardt made his mark on the lumber business, constructing a 20-mile log flume; water filled troughs on which boards floated from the sawmills location down to the drying and storage yards. It’s acknowledged as the longest flume ever built in America.

An eye for opportunity

John Bernhardt saw and acted upon the opportunities around him. First, he started his own sawmill and began buying timber. Then in 1889 he organized a company to manufacture furniture out of the native white oak. Bernhardt's vision ultimately led him to connect with distributors and merchants in large cities such as Chicago and New York City in order to supply sturdy oak bedroom furniture to people who lived as far away as the Rocky Mountains. This eager North Carolina entrepreneur began making an impression on the urban businessmen who would ultimately come to know his reliability and integrity.

J.M. Bernhardt recognized an opportunity. He convinced Caldwell Land & Lumber Company to build a railroad to access hardwood forests.

The first Bernhardt furniture was constructed from quarter-sawn white oak. This sturdy furniture was stacked and shipped by train, without protective cartons.

J.M. Bernhardt’s legacy continues

The trials and experiences of his youth shaped J.M. Bernhardt's character. His pioneering spirit and personal fortitude are reflected in his legacy—today’s Bernhardt Furniture Company. The company still places high value on old-fashioned intangibles such as perseverance, loyalty, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship.

Four generations of Bernhardt family members, who have been responsible for the success of this American enterprise, no doubt learned from J.M. Bernhardt’s experience and example.

Trial by wars, fire, and a depression

After the turn of the century, the company expanded its product line from the dining room into the bedroom, and managed to deliver furniture in spite of severe labor and materials shortages during both World Wars.

When World War I ended, J.M. Bernhardt's son, George, returned from service as a U.S. Naval officer to operate the company. His management skills would be tested in 1926 by a catastrophic fire that destroyed everything except the factory’s dry kiln and boiler room.

Bernhardt family values include dedication to those people who are responsible for the company’s success. Through wars, economic downturns, and other hardships, the company has honored its commitment to factory workers, salespeople, and customers.

Bernhardt Furniture Company turned to women to operate factory machinery so that the company could stay in business during wartime.

The Growth Years

After World War II, employees who served in the military were welcomed back with "as good or better" job offers. While materials were in short supply, demand for furniture mushroomed as soldiers returned home, married, and purchased homes. John Christian Bernhardt assumed leadership of the company after his brother George’s death in 1947. Expansion followed with the development of a professional sales force, new factories, and diversification of Bernhardt's product line.

Expanding production facilities in the 1930s also included benefits for factory workers, like a company cafeteria.

Today’s Bernhardt furniture is transported across the country and around the world. The Bernhardt brand is recognized as a benchmark for others to follow.

After more than a century, this family business still thrives

Bernhardt family members continue to be involved in the direction and management of the family business. Actually, the company’s extended family includes more than 2,000 employees who work in Bernhardt factories and offices, as well as the dedicated salespeople who represent Bernhardt in the USA and more than 35 countries. Also included as members of Bernhardt’s furniture family are a host of retailers, designers, and decorators who are loyal partners in this enterprise.

Bernhardt’s story is a tale of vision, perseverance, and uncompromising commitment to high standards of doing business. This story continues today with a focus: to anticipate and satisfy the needs of customers who expect the very best furniture for their home or office.