Charles P. Rogers
Charles P. Rogers | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 17, 1917 (aged 88) |
| Occupation(s) | Industrialist, businessman |
| Known for | Founder of Charles P. Rogers & Co., bedding manufacturer |
Charles (Chas) Platt Rogers (May 5, 1829 – December 17, 1917) was a prominent American industrialist who founded Charles P. Rogers & Co. in 1855. This enterprise holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating bedding manufacturer in the United States, serving prestigious hotels and clubs for more than a hundred years. Rogers also played a foundational role as a charter member and director of New York’s Fourteenth Street Bank. He was a trailblazer in the production and importation of brass and iron beds, earning the title "dean of the bedding manufacturers of New York City."
Early life and family
Charles Rogers was born in New York City to Andrew Yelverton Rogers, a merchant, and Jane Phillips. In 1854, he married Anna Burt, granddaughter of Daniel Burt, a Revolutionary War veteran from the Orange County militia. The couple had one daughter, Minnie Rogers (later Zabriskie), who became instrumental in managing the family business after Charles’s passing in 1917.
Entrepreneurial beginnings
Rogers began his involvement in bed manufacturing in 1854 by securing contracts to supply cots for Public School 135 in Manhattan, collaborating with bedding maker Bradford Willard. Due to widespread concerns about bed bugs at the time, iron and brass beds became highly sought after for their durability and resistance to pests. Capitalizing on this demand, Rogers launched his first retail outlet at 384 Hudson Avenue in Manhattan. By early 1855, he concentrated exclusively on brass beds and became the exclusive importer of Fisher Brown & Co., a leading brass bed manufacturer based in Birmingham, England. His product offerings soon grew to encompass down comforters, pillows, bedsprings, divans, iron bedsteads, and custom yacht cushions.
Successful industrial pioneer
Rogers rapidly established himself as a premier importer and producer of upscale brass and iron beds in New York City. His business was recommended in the 1870 New York Shopping Guide and supplied distinguished clients including luxury hotels such as The Waldorf-Astoria, St. Regis New York, Hotel Manhattan, Holland House, and Herald Square. His reputation extended nationwide with orders from The New Willard in Washington D.C., Hotel Belvedere in Baltimore, and The New St. Charles in New Orleans. To accommodate growing demand, his operations relocated to premises at 264–266 Sixth Avenue and Seventeenth Street in Manhattan. Additionally, Rogers provided wholesale materials to furniture makers like Herter Brothers. In 1882, he expanded by opening a second retail store in Syracuse.
In 1894, Rogers brought his nephew William O. Rogers (1864–1944) into partnership; William took charge of daily management as the firm broadened its reach through increased advertising in prominent periodicals such as McClure's, Scribner's, The Century Magazine, Harper's Magazine, and The Catholic World. Meanwhile, Charles and Anna engaged socially at upscale retreats including Richfield Springs and Cooperstown, New York—where by 1910 they owned Crossways Cottage for hosting gatherings. The company’s hotel clientele further expanded to include establishments like the New York Biltmore Hotel, The Vanderbilt, and The Belmont.
The hard times
The outbreak of World War I led to a critical shortage of essential materials used in brass and iron bed production, affecting manufacturers worldwide. Following Anna’s death in 1916, Charles transferred full control of the company to his nephew William—who had already acted as president for more than fifteen years. Charles then devoted himself to flower arranging while trusted associates oversaw business operations. After Charles passed away in 1917, the company endured; a reorganization in 1918 appointed Minnie Zabriskie (his daughter), William O. Rogers, and G.F. Burt to leadership positions. This era also saw a notable capital increase occurring in 1925.
His name endures as a legacy
After the passing of William O. Rogers in 1919 and the retirement of G.F. Burt in 1936, Sims Read assumed the presidency in 1937. Under Read's leadership, the company celebrated its 100th anniversary at the New York Biltmore Hotel in 1955. In 1946, industrialist Maj. General John W. Morgan—a decorated World War I veteran and then-president of Cox Gelatin Company—was appointed chairman of the board as production temporarily relocated to Yonkers, New York. Morgan held this position until his death at age 69.
More than a century and a half since its establishment, The Charles P. Rogers Co. remains dedicated to producing handcrafted iron, wood, and leather beds, along with mattresses, linens, and other bedding essentials. Their offerings are available through interior designers, factory showrooms located in Manhattan and East Rutherford, New Jersey, as well as via online sales channels and mail order catalogs.
The brand has garnered visibility through product placements in films such as The Devil's Advocate (1997) and 88 Minutes (2007), both featuring Al Pacino. Television appearances include the debut season of America's Next Top Model (2003), ABC's Extreme Home Makeover, and Fine Living Network’s Catalog This.
Charles P. Rogers earned recognition as a visionary entrepreneur whose company has become an enduring cultural symbol. Notably, author Emily Giffin referenced Charles P. Rogers as the inspiration behind the "four-poster marital bed" in her 2004 The New York Times bestseller Something Borrowed.
Other references
- Fitzhugh, Armistead (1929) The Architect and the Industrial Arts: An Exhibition of Contemporary American Design. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Digitized August 30, 2006.
- The Furniture Manufacturer and Artisan (1918) Volume 15. Periodical Publishing Co.
- Furniture Making (1918) v. 76, no. 15. Digitized June 14, 2006.
- Directory of Directors in the City of New York (1909/10) Audit Co. Digitized May 8, 2007.
- Transportation: Devoted to Travel and Traffic (1900–01) "Brass and Iron Bedsteads of exclusive design... Chas. P. Rogers & Co., Fifth Ave." v. 4–5, p. 25. Digitized April 19, 2007.