On the very day the 20th century dawned, January 1, 1900, brothers D. Edward Mason and Charles Mason opened the doors of their new furniture store on the first floor of the elegant, Italianate-style American Hotel in Circleville, Ohio. New kitchen chairs sold for 50 cents and were displayed by hanging them from the store ceiling and walls. Mattresses just didn’t sell, since most people used straw ticks and feather beds placed on rope or slat supports. Then a year came when chiggers invaded the straw ticks, and mattress sales began to take off, at prices ranging from $2.75 to $3.75. Things have changed a bit in the last 100 years.

Today, Mason Furniture sells mostly solid wood bedroom and dining room pieces, along with Norwalk, La-Z-Boy, and other top brands of upholstered furniture—plus major accessories such as grandfather clocks. Wall to wall carpet has replaced most of the rugs popular in the first part of the century, and the stoves, washers, and baby buggies that were hot items in the late ’40s and ’50s are no longer on the sales floor.

“During a 10-year period after the war, whatever my father and uncle could get, they could sell,” said Dick Patrick, who, with his brother Jim, is a third-generation co-owner of Mason Furniture. “People were coming back from the war and starting homes and families, and the population in Circleville grew because of a couple of new plants. It was a mini-boom town in those years.” After that spurt, Dick recalled that the business followed the cycles of agriculture into the ’70s—if the farmers did well, so did the stores. A hailstorm in 1982 destroyed many crops in the county, and it took most of a year for the local economy to rebound. The economy of the entire nation slowed in the ’70s and early ’80s.

In the last 20-25 years, a broader base of industry, business, and agriculture has developed, helping to smooth out the ups and downs. Mason Furniture has weathered all the changes. One reason for its success is its people, many of whom served long years as Mason employees.

“We remember Elmer Robinson, who probably worked here 65 years and lived part-time in the hotel,” Dick said. “He survived five wives and lived 96 years. Although he had no more than a 10th grade education, he had more common sense than two people.” Evelyn Weiler worked in accounting and sales for 35 years; Sonja Schultz was a sales and design consultant for 20 years; Steve Marshall began in delivery and the warehouse and now manages the flooring department; and Debbie Jenkins currently brings much experience and talent to Mason in sales and design.

The fourth generation is beginning to make a impact with two sons becoming involved. In an effort to expand its offerings Masons has opened Main Street Furniture at 140 West Main Street featuring a Custom Comfort Gallery by England Furniture. England is a La-Z-Boy owned company specializing in upholstered furniture with custom orders that are delivered in about 21 days. The Main Street store also features dining sets, occasional tables, accessories and many clearance items from the "old" store. Coming in the Fall of 2005 is a new Norwalk Home Fashion Gallery showing the latest in fabrics, leathers and styles of Norwalk upholstered furniture. Custom orders from Norwalk will deliver in 3 to 4 weeks.

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· 1913

Edward and Charles Mason purchased the American Hotel building and ran the hotel as well as the furniture store, then known as Mason Bros.

· 1929

Edward’s son, Karl, joined the business.

· 1930

The store underwent a major remodeling to double floor space and add a new window front.·

·1940s

Dick and Jim’s father, Pat Patrick, partnered with Karl to operate the store. Pat’s wife, Harriet Mason Patrick, was D. Edward’s daughter.

· 1956

The furniture store expanded by renting an additional building adjoining the hotel to display living room furniture and for storage. The owners built two archways to connect the new building to the main building.

· 1962

The Patricks purchased Karl’s interest in the business and became the sole owners of the American Hotel building and Mason Furniture.

· 1965/1971

The Patrick’s sons, Jim and Dick, joined the business in 1965 and 1971, respectively.

· 1974

Increasing expenses and decreasing patronage forced the closing of the American Hotel. Mason’s Furniture remained on the first floor. The upper floors of the hotel are used for storage.

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