[1] In late 1885, local Grand Rapids businessmen Gaius Perkins, William T. Hess and Seymour W. Peregrine founded the Grand Rapids School Furniture Company to manufacture school and office furniture.

This was completed the next year, but an increase in orders soon forced to company to double its factory size.

[2] In 1923, the company began work on a power plant and warehouse addition to the factory, which was completed in 1927.

The company lasted through the Great Depression, and converted to wartime production during World War II.

In the 1980s, the company faced financial hardships, and was eventually sold to Fuqua Industries of Atlanta, Georgia.