Madsen Furniture

Back in May my family spent a Saturday afternoon at This is the Place Heritage Park for the dedication of the Madsen Furniture building. 

It all started about ten years ago when they opened up a monument for the furniture store that my ancestors started back in the 1800's in Denmark, which they brought to the Salt Lake Valley when it was first being established. Unfortunately, over the years our monument got worn down with age and theft. My grandma and her brothers recently decided to donate the funds to have it restored back to they way it was before.

May 19th was the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony to release the new P.W. Madsen Furniture store, as well as a new fire station and fire truck up the road. It was interesting to learn the story behind Madsen Furniture. My great-great-great-great grandparents, Hans and Louisa Madsen began selling their furniture in Denmark. They came to the Salt Lake Valley in 1875 with their son, Peter William Madsen. Peter continued on with their furniture selling tradition, keeping the business alive by contracting with local artisans, as well as having furniture shipped from the east on the railroad. Madsen furniture continued to operate in Salt Lake City until the year 2000, when my great-uncles decided to close. At that time it was the oldest continually run family furniture business in America.

We spent a few hours walking around the park, looking in the shops and eating lunch with the fam.

It was such a perfect Spring day and so fun to learn about my heritage!