Forest Products Manufacturing honored for German Heritage

Joe and David Seng both agreed that their father, Bill Seng Jr., would be proud to have been awarded the inaugural German Heritage Site Distinction.

Bill Seng, Jr., was instrumental in creating the German aesthetic that marks the family’s company, Forest Products Manufacturing, office entrance behind the Dubois County Museum building.

“He did a lot of genealogy work back in the ’70s and traveled to Germany and Europe many times,” explained Joe. “While there, he noticed the architecture of Germany and liked it.”

So much so that in the early 1990s, when the company wanted to expand its offices, Bill Jr. and his wife, Mary Ann, decided to showcase Jasper’s German history in the design.

According to longtime office manager Patty Cox, they had Leo Eckerle build the Bavarian/German chalet addition as a second floor to the existing offices of the then 50-year-old company. The three-story structure includes planter boxes full of red geraniums, as you would find at many German homes.

Joe, whose office is on the second floor, is charged with watering the geraniums throughout the growing months.

“He was proud of his German heritage and wanted to show it off,” Joe said about his father. “He would be tickled. It is wonderful that it is being recognized.”

David Seng, who handles operations at the company, said his father would be really proud of the award.

“He put his heart into it,” he said. “It’s very humbling to be honored by the community.”

Forest Products Manufacturing was established in 1940 by Bill Seng Sr. The 85-year-old company manufactures hardwood parts for the local furniture industry, like cabinet stock, chairs, tables, desk parts. They also manufacture hardwood tops for applications throughout the United States.

In awarding the distinction as the inaugural German Heritage Site, Jasper German Club Vice President Lonnie Nicholson explained that the club’s goal is to bring people together to promote, preserve and celebrate our history, traditions, language, work ethic, craftsmanship and entrepreneurial spirit that represent our German roots.

“This year, the board of directors was discussing ways we could do even more on top of the things we already do and that’s where the idea of this award surfaced,” he said.

As an annual award, the club will recognize an organization for its efforts to showcase German heritage every October in celebration of German American Day.

The company will also be honored at Wednesday’s German American Day Dinner.