James G. Sterchi
Encyclopedia
James Gilbert Sterchi was an American businessman, best known as the cofounder and head of the furniture wholesaler, Sterchi Brothers Furniture Company. At its height, Sterchi Brothers was the world's largest furniture store chain, with sixty-five stores across the southeastern United States and a worldwide customer base. In 1946, the company became the first Knoxville
-based firm to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange
. The company's ten-story headquarters, now called Sterchi Lofts, stands prominently along Knoxville's skyline, and Sterchi's home in northern Knoxville, Stratford Mansion, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
, but had fled to the United States in the late 1840s following political upheaval. Like many of Knoxville's Swiss immigrants, the Sterchis initially settled in Wartburg
, atop the Cumberland Plateau
, in 1848. Disappointed with the Plateau's poor soil, however, the Sterchis moved to the Beaver Creek Valley in north Knox County, where they established a farm called "Bellefontaine." Francois, trained as a civil engineer, helped survey Gay Street
in Knoxville in the early 1850s.
The Sterchi Brothers warehouse, initially located on Gay Street's 300-block, burned along with several other buildings in the so-called "Million Dollar Fire" on April 7, 1897. The company then built a new warehouse, known as "The Emporium," which still stands on Gay Street's 100-block. Author James Agee
, in his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, A Death in the Family
, recalled the "great bright lights" of the "Sterchi's" sign while walking along Gay Street with his father in 1915. The company's ten-story headquarters at 114 Gay Street, now a loft
apartment building called "Sterchi Lofts," was built in 1921.
By 1920, Sterchi Brothers had expanded to 18 stores around the southeast region. Sterchi eventually acquired his brothers' shares, and continued expanding the company. After the company incorporated, Sterchi was named chairman. In 1929, Sterchi Brothers was the largest furniture chain in world, with 48 stores, five manufacturing plants, and forest land in Kentucky with which the company supplied lumber for its operations. The company exported to places as far away as Argentina
and Brazil
.
by sponsoring regional musicians and local radio programs in hopes of boosting phonograph
sales at its furniture stores. Like fellow Knoxville businessman Cas Walker
, Sterchi believed in the marketing potential of East and Middle Tennessee folk musicians. Working as an agent for Vocalion Records
, Sterchi Brothers paid to send early country musicians such as Uncle Dave Macon
, Sid Harkreader
, and Sam McGee
to New York to make their first recordings.
Sterchi expanded his grandfather's farm, Bellefontaine, from 371 acres (150.1 ha) to over 1400 acres (566.6 ha), and converted it into a full-scale dairy farm. In 1910, Sterchi built a new home at Bellefontaine, known as Stratford, or Sterchi Mansion. The Neoclassical-style
house was designed by Knoxville architect R. F. Graf
, and still stands off Dry Gap Pike in northern Knoxville.
Sterchi purchased Chilhowee Park
in 1921, and in turn sold the park to Knoxville in 1926, giving the city its first major public park. In 1959, Sterchi's widow, Bertha, donated land for a school, now known as Sterchi Elementary, in northern Knoxville. Sterchi Brothers's two surviving buildings on Gay Street, Sterchi Lofts and the Emporium, have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as contributing properties within the Southern Terminal and Warehouse Historic District.
In 1911, Sterchi's brother, John (who had cofounded Sterchi Brothers), formed a new furniture company with his son-in-law, John O. Fowler, called Sterchi and Fowler Furniture. This company, incorporated as Fowler Brothers in 1930, currently operates as the Furniture Shoppe and the Patio Shop in Chattanooga
.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
-based firm to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
. The company's ten-story headquarters, now called Sterchi Lofts, stands prominently along Knoxville's skyline, and Sterchi's home in northern Knoxville, Stratford Mansion, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Early life
Sterchi was born on the farm of his grandfather, Swiss immigrant Francois Sterchi, in 1867. Francois Sterchi had been a commissioner and archivist for the Canton of VaudVaud
Vaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian , Waadt in German , and Vad in Romansh.-History:Along the lakes,...
, but had fled to the United States in the late 1840s following political upheaval. Like many of Knoxville's Swiss immigrants, the Sterchis initially settled in Wartburg
Wartburg, Tennessee
Wartburg is a city in Morgan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 890 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County.-Geography:...
, atop the Cumberland Plateau
Cumberland Plateau
The Cumberland Plateau is the southern part of the Appalachian Plateau. It includes much of eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia, part of Tennessee, and a small portion of northern Alabama and northwest Georgia . The terms "Allegheny Plateau" and the "Cumberland Plateau" both refer to the...
, in 1848. Disappointed with the Plateau's poor soil, however, the Sterchis moved to the Beaver Creek Valley in north Knox County, where they established a farm called "Bellefontaine." Francois, trained as a civil engineer, helped survey Gay Street
Gay Street (Knoxville)
Gay Street is a street in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, that traverses the heart of the city's downtown area. Since its development in the 1790s, Gay Street has served as the city's principal financial and commercial thoroughfare, and has played a primary role in the city's historical and cultural...
in Knoxville in the early 1850s.
Sterchi Brothers
As a teenager, James Sterchi worked as a clerk for the glassware firm, Cullen and Newman. In 1888, he and his brothers, J. C. Sterchi and E. H. Sterchi, founded the Sterchi Brothers Furniture Company, with just $800 in initial capital. The company found a thriving market among Knoxville's growing middle and working classes, and began to expand. In 1896, Sterchi Brothers bought out furniture catalogue wholesaler King, Oates and Company, giving them access to a regional market.The Sterchi Brothers warehouse, initially located on Gay Street's 300-block, burned along with several other buildings in the so-called "Million Dollar Fire" on April 7, 1897. The company then built a new warehouse, known as "The Emporium," which still stands on Gay Street's 100-block. Author James Agee
James Agee
James Rufus Agee was an American author, journalist, poet, screenwriter and film critic. In the 1940s, he was one of the most influential film critics in the U.S...
, in his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, A Death in the Family
A Death in the Family
A Death in the Family is an autobiographical novel by author James Agee, set in Knoxville, Tennessee. He began writing it in 1948, but it was not quite complete when he died in 1955. It was edited and released posthumously in 1957 by editor David McDowell. Agee's widow and children were left with...
, recalled the "great bright lights" of the "Sterchi's" sign while walking along Gay Street with his father in 1915. The company's ten-story headquarters at 114 Gay Street, now a loft
Loft
A loft can be an upper story or attic in a building, directly under the roof. Alternatively, a loft apartment refers to large adaptable open space, often converted for residential use from some other use, often light industrial...
apartment building called "Sterchi Lofts," was built in 1921.
By 1920, Sterchi Brothers had expanded to 18 stores around the southeast region. Sterchi eventually acquired his brothers' shares, and continued expanding the company. After the company incorporated, Sterchi was named chairman. In 1929, Sterchi Brothers was the largest furniture chain in world, with 48 stores, five manufacturing plants, and forest land in Kentucky with which the company supplied lumber for its operations. The company exported to places as far away as Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Other interests
During the 1920s, Sterchi Brothers played a role in the early development of country musicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
by sponsoring regional musicians and local radio programs in hopes of boosting phonograph
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
sales at its furniture stores. Like fellow Knoxville businessman Cas Walker
Cas Walker
Orton Caswell Walker , better known as Cas Walker, was a Tennessee businessman, politician, and personality on television and radio. Walker founded a successful chain of small grocery stores that grew to include several dozen stores scattered throughout the Knoxville, Tennessee vicinity as well as...
, Sterchi believed in the marketing potential of East and Middle Tennessee folk musicians. Working as an agent for Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records is a record label active for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom.-History:Vocalion was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Piano Company of New York City, which introduced a retail line of phonographs at the same time. The name was derived from one of their...
, Sterchi Brothers paid to send early country musicians such as Uncle Dave Macon
Uncle Dave Macon
Uncle Dave Macon , born David Harrison Macon—also known as "The Dixie Dewdrop"—was an American banjo player, singer, songwriter, and comedian...
, Sid Harkreader
Sid Harkreader
Sidney Harkreader was an American Old-time fiddle player and string band leader. He was an early member of the Grand Ole Opry, at first accompanying banjoist Uncle Dave Macon and later performing on the program with his own band...
, and Sam McGee
McGee Brothers
The McGee Brothers were an American old-time performing duo consisting of brothers Sam McGee and Kirk McGee . Sam typically played guitar and Kirk usually played banjo or fiddle, although they were both proficient in multiple string instruments...
to New York to make their first recordings.
Sterchi expanded his grandfather's farm, Bellefontaine, from 371 acres (150.1 ha) to over 1400 acres (566.6 ha), and converted it into a full-scale dairy farm. In 1910, Sterchi built a new home at Bellefontaine, known as Stratford, or Sterchi Mansion. The Neoclassical-style
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
house was designed by Knoxville architect R. F. Graf
R. F. Graf
Richard Franklin Graf was an American architect, active primarily in Knoxville, Tennessee, and the vicinity, in the early 20th century. His works include Stratford Mansion , Sterchi Lofts , St. John's Lutheran Church , and the Journal Arcade . His home, the Prairie School-inspired Graf-Cullum...
, and still stands off Dry Gap Pike in northern Knoxville.
Legacy
Sterchi purchased Chilhowee Park
Chilhowee Park
Chilhowee Park is a public park, fairgrounds and exhibition venue in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, located off Magnolia Avenue in East Knoxville. Developed in the late 19th century, the park is now home to the Tennessee Valley Fair, and hosts several dozen expositions annually...
in 1921, and in turn sold the park to Knoxville in 1926, giving the city its first major public park. In 1959, Sterchi's widow, Bertha, donated land for a school, now known as Sterchi Elementary, in northern Knoxville. Sterchi Brothers's two surviving buildings on Gay Street, Sterchi Lofts and the Emporium, have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as contributing properties within the Southern Terminal and Warehouse Historic District.
In 1911, Sterchi's brother, John (who had cofounded Sterchi Brothers), formed a new furniture company with his son-in-law, John O. Fowler, called Sterchi and Fowler Furniture. This company, incorporated as Fowler Brothers in 1930, currently operates as the Furniture Shoppe and the Patio Shop in Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
.
See also
- Cal JohnsonCal Johnson (businessman)Caldonia Fackler Johnson was an American businessman and philanthropist, active primarily in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
- Peter KernPeter Kern (American businessman)Peter Kern was a German-born American businessman and politician active in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known as the founder of the confections company that eventually evolved into Kern's Bakery, a brand still marketed in the Knoxville area...
- Peter StaubPeter StaubPeter Staub was a Swiss-born American businessman, politician, and diplomat. He immigrated to the United States in 1854, and moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1856, where he lived for most of the remainder of his life...