Our Story

1866-67

Lyman E. Woodard purchases a lumber-planing mill in the boomtown of Owosso, Michigan. He and his three brothers create Woodard Brothers, a company that manufactures wood furniture, window and door sashes, blinds and pine-box caskets.

1880

The thriving business has annual sales of $20,000 to $25,000. The company employs 30 men.

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1882-85

The brothers create a second business, the Owosso Casket Company. They build a new factory to produce metal, hardwood and cloth-covered caskets.

1888

The three-year-old casket factory burns to the ground. Undeterred, the brothers quickly rebuild.

1890

Lyman buys out his brothers’ (Warren, Henry, William) shares in Woodard Brothers and the Owosso Casket Company.

1898

Another devastating fire razes the planing mill and furniture factory, a huge setback for the company. The only thing remaining of the original factory and mill was its huge brick chimney which stood for 24 years until 1922 when several hundred people gathered to watch it crumble to the ground as city crews demolished it. Owosso City Hall was built on the site two years later.

1900

Lyman’s three sons, Frank, Fred, and Lee Woodard, along with son-in-law Joseph Osborne, join the businesses.

1901

The Owosso Casket Company incorporates. Two U. S. presidents, William McKinley and Benjamin Harrison, are buried in Owosso caskets.

1902

Woodard Brothers opens a new planing mill and two new factories near the Owosso railway yard, to make shipping convenient.

1904

After the death of Lyman, the production of window sash and doors was dropped and emphasis was concentrated on furniture and caskets. His three sons and son-in-law take over the family businesses.

1911-12

This photo of the 1902 Woodard factory was taken a day after the famous cyclone that struck Owosso November 11, 1911, supposedly at 11:11pm. The high winds killed two people and left more than a million dollars damage in its wake. The Woodard buildings suffered severe damage, but again the Woodards persevered. They repaired the damage and made several additions in the process. This made the building more than 200,000 sq ft. in size and the factory covered two city blocks.

1918-19

The Spanish Flu spreads around the world. Approximately 675,000 Americans die from the pandemic and the Owosso Casket Company produces 150 caskets a day to meet the demand.

1920

Owosso Casket Company becomes the largest casket-maker in the world.

1934

The Great Depression and the depletion of Michigan hardwood and pine take their toll. The company switches to making metal outdoor furniture.

1938

The second and third generations of the family, Lee Woodard and his sons, start Woodard and Sons, a company that produces metal furniture using proprietary designs Lee creates. As a designer, Lee drew national recognition for his work and he pioneered the idea of using wrought iron in outdoor furniture. It was Lee and Sadie’s three sons, Joseph, Russell and Lyman II, who were responsible for making their furniture lines nationally and then internationally known.

1938-42

The Woodard Furniture Company and the Owosso Casket Company held out several years longer than most other woodworking factories, but between the years 1938 and 1942 both companies discontinued production and liquidated their assets. Lyman’s son Lee, and his three sons, converted their wood furniture to a new material. In 1936, they debuted their wrought iron furniture and the Woodard name soon became internationally known.

1940

Woodard and Sons introduces the Orleans collection, their bestselling design. The Orleans design is in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC, chosen for having been the longest-running Woodard design. The simple oak leaf and acorn motif, in addition to the graceful Cabriole legs, identify this design.

1942-46

The country enters WWII. Woodard and Sons converts their factory to a facility that manufactures component parts for trucks, tanks, and naval/aircraft equipment. After the war, they resume production of outdoor metal furniture.

1950

By the 1940’s, Frank’s son, Dean, operated the Dean C. Woodard Furniture Co. on Corunna Ave. There he produced finely made wood coffee tables and end tables. This company went out of business in the 1960’s.

1956

Introducing the iconic Sculptura chair, Woodard becomes the first manufacturer to construct a sculpted chair without using expensive molds.

1959-60

The company builds the Carolina Forge factory for wrought iron in Salisbury, North Carolina, where labor is plentiful. Woodard manufactures 100,000 pieces of furniture each year, generating $2.5 million in revenue.

1962

During the Eisenhower era, the company designed a wrought-iron collection called Chantilly Rose specially for The Rose Garden. In 1962, the company introduces the Mayfield collection. First Lady Jackie Kennedy purchases furniture from this collection.

1967

Woodard opens Woodard Crafts, a plant in Maxton, North Carolina, that handles production of extruded aluminum.

1969

By the 1960s Woodard was considered the premier American manufacturer of quality casual furniture. Because there were no prospective heirs to carry on the family business, in 1969 the company was sold to Wickes Corporation.

1980

Woodard, now the leading manufacturer of wrought iron casual furniture, introduces the Margarita contemporary collection.

1994

The Sculptura chair is added to the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum’s permanent collection.

1995

The company’s owners build an updated factory and offices covering 7.5 acres in Owosso. The new facility produces 3,000 pieces of furniture a week—175,000 pieces a year. President George W. Bush is photographed ensconced in Woodard outdoor seating at the Texas Governor’s Mansion.

2001-05

Woodard consolidates its manufacturing facilities, closing its two North Carolina plants and a plant in Ontario, California.

2008-09

Craftmade of Texas purchases Woodard and consolidates its offices into its headquarters and reestablishes Woodard’s presence in the Chicago Merchandise Mart. Woodard adds “Custom Express,” offering a two-week production lead time.

2013

Woodard acquires woven outdoor furniture specialist, Whitecaft.

2015

In response to the resurgence of mid-century modern furnishings, Woodard revives the iconic Sculptura collection, available in 30 colors and finishes.

2016

Woodard hosts a year-long celebration of its 150th anniversary.

2017

Design Within Reach signs an exclusive to carry Woodard’s iconic Sculptura Collection. Sculptura is featured on DWR’s website and sold through their retail stores nationwide.

2018

Woodard adds Vale to its portfolio, a contemporary, modern, aluminum design setting a new standard in luxury outdoor living. Vale quickly becomes one of the largest collections sold at Nebraska Furniture Mart. Cooper, Daytona, and Palm Coast collections are also introduced.

2019

The Cane collection debuts. Reminiscent of traditional rattan furniture, Cane is constructed of extruded aluminum and a durable powder coated finish, giving the look of rattan without the care and maintenance. Colfax, Seal Cove, Monroe, Maiz and Sonata collections are added to the assortment.

2020

In early 2020, Dallas Designer and Litex CEO Jean Liu converts the upholstery department at the Woodard warehouse in Owosso, MI into a nonmedical-grade mask manufacturing operation in the fight against Covid-19. Liu also recruited others to the effort, including Wesley Hall Furniture and textile giants Kravet and Schumacher. Together they made 10,000 masks a day.

2021

New dining, counter/bar stools, chaises and benches are added to the portfolio rounding out existing collections as people are spending more time at home during the pandemic and making use of their outdoor spaces like never before.

2022

Woodard moves into a state-of-the-art warehouse at DFW airport for stocking and distribution of Woodard woven collections Woodard woven and Direct Product. The Nico collection is introduced – a “New and Improved Cortland” to fill a more classic niche. Woodard also introduces Hudson, Orion & Turner collections.

2022-23

Renowned interior designer Alexa Hampton introduces four new collections in collaboration with Woodard to much fanfare at the Spring High Point market. The collections include two woven groups (Lorenzo and San Michelle) and two cast aluminum (Alberti and Tuoro).

2023

Woodard takes the industry by storm with its introduction of the Sierra collection made of innovative NextTeak, the next evolution of alternative teak. Weather resistant and carefree, this unique product provides the warm look and feel of teak, without the maintenance or upkeep. Created by in-house designer Site Li, Elevation and Windsor collections debut as well as the Canopi Umbrellas in three styles.

2023

The expansive 23,000 square foot Woodard showroom opens in the AmericasMart Atlanta during the summer of 2023.

2024

Woodard introduces the Reed collection, the first new iron collection in years created by in-house designer Site Li. Other collections also by Li make their debut- Gather, Beau, Essence fire tables, and more Canopi Umbrella styles.