History Timeline

1882

1st Basketball Game

The first basketball game was played in Springfield, MA.

1884

1st U.S. Squash Match

The first U.S. squash match was played in Concord, NH, at St. Paul's School.

1885

First Maple Lumbered

The first stumpage stand of northern hard maple was lumbered into flooring.

1890

Maple & Birch Sell for $4

Surface clear maple and birch logs of 12 inches in diameter were sold for $4.00 per thousand feet.

1891

William Horner First in Hardwood Flooring

William Horner became the first manufacturer of northern hardwood flooring.

1895

Maple End Matching

Maple end matching was introduced into the flooring industry.

1896

1st Volleyball Game

William G. Morgan, a 25 year old gym teacher, invented the game of volleyball at the YMCA in Holyoke, MA.

1897

MFMA Founded

MFMA was established to enforce uniform grades and standards of products for the flooring industry.

Dr. Earle 1st MFMA President

Dr. George Washington Earle was elected the first President of the Board of Directors for MFMA (term 1897 - 1911).

1900

Single Pass Flooring Machine

The first single-pass flooring machine was designed.

1905

MFMA Grading Inspections

MFMA began mill grading inspections.

1906

NCAA Established

The NCAA was founded in 1906 to protect young people from the dangerous and exploitive athletic practices of the time.

1911

MFMA Architect Literature

MFMA began publishing descriptive literature for architects.

1912

Standard Grading Marking

MFMA establishes supervision of grades and millwork at flooring mills.

1916

Yawkey-Bissell Incorporated

The Yawkey-Bissell Lumber Company was incorporated by W.H. Bissell (President), W.W. Gamble, Sr. (Vice President/GM), A.P. Woodsen (Secretary) and C.C. Yawkey (Treasurer) and purchased 25,000 acres of hardwood and hemlock timber land in Langlade County, Wisconsin.

1917

Horner Flooring Co.

Horner Flooring Co. joined the MFMA.

Print Advertising

MFMA began printed space advertising and called on architects and contractors.

1920

Mills Convert to All-Electric Production

Hardwood flooring mills converted from steam powered belt driven machinery to all-electric production.

1926

Headquarters Moved to Chicago

MFMA Headquarters offices moved to the McCormick Building in Chicago, IL.

Landmark Anti-trust Lawsuit

MFMA won a landmark federal anti-trust lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice. The lawsuit addressed the sharing of historical industry data.

James Thomas

James Thomas was elected MFMA President (term 1926 - 1931).

1927

Selected Brown Grade

Selected Brown Grade was introduced into the flooring market.

1929

Stains Not Practical for Maple

MFMA promoted staining maple in print ads. However, due to changes in the chemical formula of staining products, today's stains do not take well to solid maple and are no longer recommended.

1932

Arthur Wells

MFMA elected Arthur Wells as President (term 1932 - 1947).

1940

MFMA Grading Standards

MFMA Grading Standards were established and adopted by members.

1946

Tongue & Groove Face Machine

The one stop tongue and groove/face machine was invented.

1947

Walter Abendroth MFMA President

Walter Abendroth was elected MFMA President (term 1947 - 1952).

MFMA 50th Anniversary

MFMA celebrated its 50th anniversary and members hit production of 4 billion feet of maple beech and birch since 1897.

1948

MFMA Headquarters Moves to Oshkosh, WI

MFMA Headquarters offices moved to Oshkosh, WI.

1949

First Racquetball Game

The first racquetball game was played in Bridgeport, CT.

NBA Established

In the summer of 1949 the six surviving NBL teams were absorbed into the BAA and the league was renamed to the National Basketball Association (NBA).

1950

Linoleum & Carpet Introduced to Market

Linoleum and carpet were introduced as flooring alternatives.

The Baby Boom

The end of WWII brought a need for more schools and gym floors due to the Baby Boom and suburban sprawl.

MFMA Headquarters Move to Chicago

MFMA Headquarters offices moved to Chicago, IL.

1951

Sport Floor Systems Developed

Sport floor "systems" were developed including cushioned systems and rubber pads.

1952

Sport Floor Systems Techniques Developed

End-to-end systems, cushioned underfloors, channel-and-clip techniques were developed into the sports floor market.

Donald DeWitt MFMA President

Donald DeWitt was elected MFMA President (term 1952 - 1957).

1953

Nailing Groove Added

A nailing groove was added to strip flooring and became an industry standard.

1955

Powernail Patented

The first patents were issued to Powernail, reducing time and costs for hardwood flooring installations.

1956

Rubber-Cushioned Subfloor

Rubber-cushioned plywood subfloor were developed.

1957

William W. Gamble President

William W. Gamble was elected President of MFMA (term 1957 - 1961).

1960

Connor Sports Flooring

Connor Sports Flooring joined the MFMA

Rider Sander Patented

Richard Baseman, Sr., received a patent for the first functional "rider sander."

1961

Samuel Wells

Samuel Wells was elected President of MFMA (term 1961 - 1965).

1962

Synthetic Gym Floors

In the 1960s synthetic gym floors were introduced as sports floors.

Mechanically Fastened Systems

Sleeper and padded plywood systems were refined into mechanically fastened systems.

1964

MFMA Summer Meeting

MFMA held the 1964 Summer Board of Directors Meeting on Mackinac Island, MI.

1965

Carl Abendroth

Carl Abendroth was elected MFMA President (term 1965 - 1970).

MFMA Offices Move to Oshkosh, WI

MFMA Headquarters offices moved to Oshkosh, WI.

1967

Wood & Synthetic Flooring Institute

The Wood and Synthetic Flooring Institute (WSFI) was founded from a group of contractors previously regarded as the Wood Flooring Guild, then the Wood Flooring Institute.

1969

Cost of Floor Maintenance

The cost of floor maintenance of a MFMA maple floor was $0.07 per square foot per year.

1970

Portable Sports Floors

In the 1970s portable sports floors became common in many arenas.

1971

Products Introduced to Market

In the 1970s many products such as sheet goods, poured urethane, synthetic grass and carpet were introduced as sports flooring products. MFMA countered this trend with an advertising campaign addressing safety.

John Hamar President

John Hamar was elected MFMA President (term 1971 - 1975).

1972

Finish and Sealers Included on Finish List

MFMA develops finish and sealer test procedures for inclusion on the MFMA Finish List.

1976

William W. Gamble III

William W. Gamble III was elected President of MFMA (term 1976 - 1980).

1977

Robbins Inc.

Robbins Inc. joined the MFMA.

Finish Specifications

MFMA revised finish specifications for floor products.

MFMA Offices Move

In 1977 the MFMA Headquarters offices moved to Glenview, IL.

1979

1st Installation School

MFMA and NOFMA sponsored the first Wood Flooring Installation School.

MFMA Offices Move

The MFMA Headquarters offices move to Chicago, IL, and stay downtown until 1985.

1980

Dept of Agriculture Forestry Div

In the 1980s the Department of Agriculture Forestry Division sponsors trade missions abroad and MFMA begins to establish global recognition.

1981

Allen Harris

Allen Harris was elected MFMA President (term 1981 - 1989).

1982

Dance Athlete

MFMA began to address the specific needs of the "dance athlete" and develops unique flooring systems.

MFMA Finish List

85 floor finishes were included on the MFMA approved finish list.

1985

MFMA Offices Move

MFMA Headquarters offices moved to Northbrook, IL.

1988

Sport Floor Injury Study

A sport floor injury study was commissioned by the MFMA.

1989

Action Floor Systems LLC

Action Floor Systems LLC joined the MFMA.

1990

MFMA Marketing Dues

MFMA began to direct funds toward marketing based on dues paid on the square footage of flooring sold by Mill Manufacturer Members.

James H. Stoehr, Jr.

James H. Stoehr, Jr., was elected MFMA President (term 1990 - 1999).

1991

DIN Testing

DIN testing criteria was recognized by MFMA.

MFMA "The Sports Flooring Authority"

MFMA was accepted as "the sports flooring authority" by the architectural community.

1993

Life Cycle Study

MFMA commissioned a study to determine the life cycle costs for sports flooring.

1st Annual MFMA Conference

MFMA hosted the 1st Annual MFMA Conference for members in Phoenix, AZ.

1994

MFMA Absorbs WSFI

The MFMA absorbed the Wood & Synthetic Flooring Institute association and its members.

AIA Expo

MFMA exhibited for the first time at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Exposition.

1995

MFMA Adds Assistant Director

Daniel Heney became MFMA Assistant Director working with the Technical Committee, conducting floor inspections and answering technical phone calls.

1996

MFMA 3rd Annual Conference

MFMA holds 3rd Annual Conference in Palm Springs, CA.

1997

MFMA 100 Years Old

MFMA celebrated 100 year anniversary.

1998

MFMA 5th Annual Convention

MFMA held 5th Annual Convention in Orlando, FL.

1999

Aacer Flooring

Aacer Flooring joined the MFMA.

MFMA 6th Annual Conference

MFMA held 6th Annual Conference in Palm Springs, CA.

Douglas Hamar

Douglas Hamar was elected MFMA President (term 1999 - 2003).

2000

MFMA 7th Annual Conference

MFMA held 7th Annual Conference in St. Petersburg, FL.

2001

MFMA 8th Annual Conference

MFMA held 8th Annual Conference in Huntington Beach, CA.

Finger Jointed and Parquet Become Official

Finger jointed and parquet became official MFMA products and MFMA Grading Rules were developed for each.

2002

MFMA Hall of Fame

MFMA inducts the Inaugural Class for the Hall of Fame and inductee plaques are presented to mill representatives. Class inductees include; Albert H. Abendroth, Walter C. Abendroth, Charles H. Anderson, Otto Berk, Morley Foster, Sam Horner and William Horner.

MFMA 9th Annual Conference

MFMA held 9th Annual Conference in Miami Beach, FL.

2003

MFMA 10th Annual Meeting

MFMA held 10th Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX.

Floyd Shelton

Floyd Shelton was elected MFMA President (term 2003 - 2006).

2004

MFMA 11th Annual Conference

MFMA held 11th Annual Conference in Scottsdale, AZ.

2005

Heather Gagnon Currier Joins MFMA Staff

Heather Gagnon Currier joined the MFMA staff as Marketing Communications Director.

2006

MFMA Board of Directors

MFMA Board of Directors photo taken at the Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers, FL.

MFMA 2006 Conference

MFMA held conference in Fort Myers, FL, and moves conference from annual to biennial format.

Thomas Abendroth

Thomas Abendroth was elected MFMA President (term 2006 - 2009).

2007

WD Flooring

WD Flooring joined the MFMA.

2008

MFMA 2008 Conference

MFMA 2008 Conference held in San Diego, CA.

MFMA Contributes to the Hardwood Federation

The Hardwood Federation is an industry trade association, representing U.S. hardwood businesses and acting as the industry's advocacy voice on Capitol Hill.