This week, our community received the momentous and heavy news that the Howard Miller Clock Company—the last remaining clock manufacturer in Zeeland—is closing its doors. It’s a moment that marks the end of an era not only for Zeeland but for American clockmaking as a whole.
The company’s story stretches back to 1905 with the founding of Star Furniture. Renamed Herman Miller Furniture in 1923 by D.J. De Pree, the company launched a clock division under the leadership of Howard Miller in 1926. After the clock division dissolved during the Great Depression, Howard Miller revived it independently in 1941. From these humble beginnings, Howard Miller Clock Company grew to become the country’s foremost manufacturer of grandfather clocks and a leader in mid-century modern design.
Its partnerships with renowned designers like Gilbert Rohde and George Nelson Associates brought Bauhaus and modernist aesthetics to American homes. For many families, owning a Howard Miller clock became a symbol of craftsmanship, tradition, and upward mobility—heirlooms proudly passed from one generation to the next.
Zeeland was once a hub for clockmaking, home to companies like Colonial Manufacturing, Trend Clock Company, and H.L. Hubbell.. But Howard Miller has been the last of its kind, representing a legacy of innovation, entrepreneurship, and design excellence that helped define our local identity.
Yesterday alone, we received five requests from members of the press seeking historical context on the company’s impact and legacy. It was clear that the Zeeland Historical Society is the place where this story lives. We are proud to serve as a trusted resource in moments like these—when our community needs to reflect, remember, and understand.
As our director, Katelyn VerMerris, shared in a recent interview with WoodTV, this is a significant moment in our city’s history. The announcement is a reminder that even the most enduring institutions are not guaranteed to last forever. That’s why the work of the Zeeland Historical Society is so vital.
Preserving stories like that of the Howard Miller Clock Company ensures that future generations understand the industries, values, and people that shaped our community. While the factory may soon go quiet, the legacy of Zeeland’s clockmaking heritage lives on in our archives, exhibits, and collective memory.
In fact, our number one research request is from individuals hoping to identify historic Zeeland-made clocks. We offer a wide range of resources for clock owners and enthusiasts—whether that’s through archives, photos, product catalogs, or educational exhibits. We are proud to serve as caretakers of this rich legacy and help people connect their personal histories with our shared community story.
This moment reminds us why the work of the Zeeland Historical Society matters. Even the pillars of our community—companies we thought would be here forever—can come to a close. But their stories live on through the records we preserve, the exhibits we create, and the history we share. Thank you for supporting this important work.
Read our Mentions in the Press
Clock manufacturing has a significant and far-reaching legacy in Zeeland, from the hundreds of people who worked in the industry, to the historic factories that still define our landscape, to the clocks that now grace homes across the country. For over 100 years, Howard Miller Clock Company and the Miller family have been pillars in the Zeeland community, representing the best of Zeeland—entrepreneurial spirit, design innovation, and a commitment to quality that has stood the test of time.
