Bassinet, Vermeulen Furniture Company, 1930

Bassinet, Vermeulen Furniture Company, 1930

In 1930, Leslie Vermeulen, a partner in the Vermeulen Furniture Company, brought this bassinet home from the store for his new baby daughter, Leslie. The bassinet was passed down and used by members of the family until it was deemed potentially hazardous by current safety standards.

Harold Vermeulen opened Vermeulen’s Furniture in 1924. His younger brother Leslie came on board three years later. For many years, the company operated at the corner of Rose and Water Streets in what is known as the Lawrence & Chapin Building or the Interurban Building. After 86 years in business, Vermeulen’s Furniture closed its doors in 2010. This bassinette documents the story of not only the Vermeulen Family, but also a locally-owned and operated family business.

Object #2016.54.1

Off the Shelves
  1. Introduction
  2. Replica of King Tutankhamen’s Throne, pre-1980s
  3. Horse Model, c. 1870s
  4. Replica Radio-Controlled Model Airplane “Big Guff,” 1937
  5. Dutch Merchantman Model, Handmade, c. 1949
  6. Carrom Board, The Carrom Company, manufactured 1914-1939
  7. Flexible Flyer Sled, S.L. Allen and Company, Inc.
  8. Pieter Van Peenen’s Trunk, c. 1863
  9. Wheelchair, circa 1940s-1950s
  10. Child’s Ladder-Back Chair, 1840-1860
  11. Child’s Rocking Chair, mid-19th century
  12. Baby’s Highchair, 1830-1839
  13. Bassinet, Vermeulen Furniture Company, 1930
  14. Rocking Horse, Pony Boy Manufacturing Company, 1947-1948
  15. Edgars Krasts’ Trunk, c. 1951
  16. Work Table, date unknown
  17. Bicycle, “Mini Miss,” Stelber Bicycle Corporation, c. late 1960s
  18. Electric Stove, Kalamazoo Stove & Furnace Company, 1948-1950
  19. Electro Hygiene Vacuum Cleaner, c. 1940
  20. Pump Organ, Star Organ, c. 1870s
  21. Electric Phonograph Company, 1916-1918
  22. Regina Music Box, c. 1895
  23. Console Television, Model 2U172L Run 2, Magnavox, c. 1960
  24. Radio, Zenith Radio Company, 1940-1941
  25. Bass Drum, Barbour Hall Military Academy Band, c. 1950s-1979
  26. Chickering Piano, 1864
  27. Florentine Table, c. 1875
  28. Panama Pacific Exposition of 1915
  29. Carved Chair, purchased 1915
  30. Table, Hinoki Wood, 1915
  31. Settee, c. 1870
  32. Writing Desk and Chair, c. 1880
  33. Singer Sewing Machine, 1927
  34. Underwood Standard Bookkeeping Machine, post-1923
  35. Permanent Wave Machine, c. 1937
  36. Hoekstra’s Hardware Store Sign, 1940s-2017
  37. Test 'Ur Own' Radio and TV Tube Tester, c. Late 1950s - Early 1960s
  38. Telephone Switchboard, 555 PBX (Private Branch Exchange) model, 1955-1969