In October 1943, after eight years working with furniture manufacturers in the Carolinas and Virginia, Hamilton Louden Bruce decided to try his hand at furniture manufacturing. Leasing a small building for $15.00 per month, he hired two helpers and started to manufacture canvas covered lawn chairs. The company derived its name from Hamilton (Ham) and his wife, Mary (mary), therefore Hammary. Late in 1947, Mr. Bruce dropped the lawn chair line and began to manufacture a group of occasional tables.

Today, Hammary Furniture Company, a division of La-Z-Boy Incorporated, offers a variety of styles in Occasional Tables, Chairsides, Home Office & Home Entertainment.