Harris Manufacturing Company.

William Pond Harris (1846-1915), a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, came to Johnson City, Tenn., in 1890 to serve as construction superintendent in the building of the Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad (The 3 C).

When the Panic of 1893 ended the construction project, Harris worked for a few years as division superintendent for the Plant rail system before returning to Johnson City. In 1898, he established the Harris Manufacturing Company. Initially, the company produced a variety of wooden products, including plow handles, golf club shafts, slats, broom handles, and wagon wheel rims. In 1908, the firm began to focus on making strip flooring. Harris Manufacturing became one of the largest producers of hardwood flooring in the world. It formally incorporated under the laws of Tennessee on June 20, 1910.

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