Charles Rogers American industrialist, founder and director of the Fourteenth Street Bank in New York City Date of Birth: 05.05.1829 Country: USA

1. Charles Platt Rogers: A Pioneering Industrialist
2. Founding Charles P Rogers & Co.
3. Innovative Products and Business Acumen
4. Expansion and Success
5. Legacy and Impact

Charles Platt Rogers: A Pioneering Industrialist

Charles Platt Rogers, an American industrialist, was born on May 5, 1829, in New York City. He co-founded and served as a director of the Fourteenth Street Bank in New York City.

Founding Charles P Rogers & Co.

In 1855, Rogers established a company that would bear his name, Charles P Rogers & Co. The company began as a bedding manufacturer and retailer, specializing in the production of iron and brass beds. Today, Charles P Rogers & Co. continues to operate, supplying beds and bedding to luxury hotels and clubs.

Innovative Products and Business Acumen

Rogers was a pioneer in the bedding industry, recognizing the need for insect-resistant beds amidst a city plagued by pests. He became a leading importer, supplying New York City's elite and prestigious luxury hotels, such as The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and St. Regis. His reputation and product quality led to expansion into distant hotels, including the Hotel Belvedere in Baltimore and The New St. Charles in New Orleans.

Expansion and Success

The company established a second showroom in Syracuse, New York, in 1982. However, the outbreak of World War I disrupted the availability of materials needed for bed production. After Rogers' wife passed away in 1916, he handed over management to his nephew, William, who had served as president for the past fifteen years.

Legacy and Impact

Rogers dedicated his later years to his hobby of floriculture, leaving the business to his trusted associates. He passed away in 1917, but his company lived on. A reorganization in 1918, involving his daughter Minnie Zabriskie, William O. Rogers, and G. F. Burt, led to increased capital and a thriving business.

Rogers' beds became part of popular culture, appearing in films such as "Devil's Advocate" (1997) and "88 Minutes" (2007), starring Al Pacino. He was known as a businessman, innovator, and master craftsman who left an enduring mark on the bedding industry and beyond. Upon his death, he was hailed as "the dean of the bedding trade in New York City" (1918).