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In the early 1870s he started a small factory in the rear of a three story brick she factory located on the site of the McCullough Library. Cushman invented several "novelties" which he sold, including the erasers on the end of lead pencils. Eventually he sold the right to manufacture the erasers and received royalties for many years. Cushman organized a successful mail order company, The United States Mail Supply Company, one of the first in this country. He invented the first ink eraser, the first pencil and ink eraser combination, and the first childrens' "pencil box" with pencils, pen, eraser, and ruler in the box. He also made the first ink eradicator. Cushman manufactured some of the earliest roller skates, made almost entirely of wood. He also invented a pocket-sized roller skate which rolled into a tube. He sold all these items through his mail order business. Child's Business Directory of 1880-1881 lists the business as "Cushman, Henry T., manufacturer of stationers' supplies, specialties. West n[ear] Main, h[ome] Bank." This locale proved to be small, so in 1889 he moved into the Dayton Colvin Mill on Prospect Street where he founded the "H.T. Cushman Company." The building had recently been rebuilt after a fire and later served as a warehouse for the company. Shortly after moving into the building, in 1886 he began manufacturing coat and hat hangers and racks, the first real furniture he produced. About this time a salesman developed the idea of a towel rack and sponge holder for the bathroom, known as the "Ladies' Friend," which became "immensely popular." Then followed: umbrella racks; folding umbrella stands; portrait easels; music stands; jardiniere stands; wall pockets and book racks; foot rests and stools; hall trees and racks; "Jolly Catchers" [small catch-alls]; indoor grill work. Later on the company produced folding screens and fire screens, the most popular model being the "Cat Screen," showing a mother cat and two kittens in front of a fireplace, all three covered in black rabbit fur.

In 1892 the Cushman Company moved to its last location on present-day Route 67A, and on February 22, 1899 the "H.T. Cushman Company" was incorporated under the laws of the state of Vermont. President and treasurer of the company was Henry T. Cushman; vice president, Robert N. Squire, Bennington; secretary and superintendent, Arthur H. Cushman (a son). At this time the company made 150 different articles of fancy furniture. Between 30-100 people worked there.

Circa 1901 the company began manufacturing Mission Furniture. This was not an original design, nor was Cushman the only manufacturer. However, the did design the first end-shelf table in Mission style. The company made stools, stands, and wardrobe trees, utilizing mahogany. Other items invented by Cushman Company included the "Betumal," [Beat 'em all], a telephone stand with an attached hinged stool nestled within a stand when not in use and the "Shynezy" chair, which provided space under a hinged seat for household shoe shining supplies. Also manufactured were shoe polishing stools.

In the fall of 1913 a small line of smokers was introduced. This line expanded into the most popular smokers in the country. The first brick addition to the plant was added in 1919. In 1921 the first colored enamel breakfast room suites were introduced. The power plant and East Ell were added in 1922 and in 1926 a large brick addition to the main factory building was added.

By the early 1930s the demand for smoker's furniture, which peaked from 1918 to 1926, waned. In the spring of 1933, a sensation arose in the furniture industry when Cushman introduced its "Colonial Creations" line, and in spring of 1936 a "Modern Creations" line was added. Designer for the furniture was Herman DeVries from Holland. Colonial furniture had been made by others but Cushman became the first company to adapt ideas from blacksmiths' nailboxes or cobblers' benches. The maple finish and scuffing or agin effect made this brand-new furniture appear to be 150 years old. A newspaper account written in 1936 declares that for the last 8-10 years, the Cushman Company distributed 5,000-8,000 Vermont maple sugar cakes at the markets yearly. The Stone House, across the street from the factory, had been the site of the marriage and home of Mr. and Mrs. Cushman from 1867-1922. The House had already been turned into a free exhibit displaying the furniture in the 1930s.

By 1910, four sons of H.T. Cushman worked for the company. John Henry Cushman was president; William C.H. Cushman, vice-president and treasurer, who circa 1913, became the first person to use spray gins to apply varnish and shellac finishes to furniture; and Frederick B. Cushman, secretary. J.H. Cushman began with the company in 1896. As of 1953, at the age of 75 he was still alive. William began in 1899 and died in 1950. Frederick entered the business in 1907 and died in 1940. Arthur H. Cushman, the oldest son, also started at the family business, but began pursuing other business interests shortly after WWI. Burton L. Bromley began in the company in 1899 and was still director in 1953.

By the 1950s all furniture was made of yellow birch from Canada and New York which is tougher than maple, heavier than mahogany, more shock-resistant than walnut, and of greater bending strength than oak. Employed at the plant in 1953 were Hall W. Cushman, vice-president and general manager and Townsend K. Wellington, vice-president in charge of sales, who, by 1969, was managing the Stone House.

According to Burton L. Bromley (1882-1975), the Cushman Company was sold to General Industries in 1964. Mr. Bromley worked for Cushman for over 50 years. He lived on Mechanic St. from 1913 until his death. A Christmas advertisement from the Banner in November 1969 lists "Cushman/Shaw Division of General Interiors Corp., but the new company is anxious to restore the spirit of a family-owned community business to the local factory." In 1971 the Green Mountain Furniture Company, based in New Hampshire, purchased the H.T. Cushman Co., from General Industries of New York who had moved their production to other operations. Green Mountain Furniture went out of business in 1980.

Sources:

Bennington Banner: August 15, 1980; November [no date] 1969; December 13, 1969; February 28, 1899.

Bennington Evening Banner: February 1, 1936.

Vermont Life, Spring 1953 - article by Bradford Smith.

History of North Bennington, Herbert Stebbins Walbridge, 1937.

Things and Happenings I remember in and around North Bennington, Burton L. Bromley.

Business Directory of Bennington County, 1880-1881, Hamilton Child.

The Genealogical Family History of the State of Vermont

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