Iowa has many Century Club companies - probably more than I have identified. Below are the ones I have in my data base, only two of which are public; over 30 are generational family firms. If you know of an Iowa-based business that has been in continuous, independent operation for 100 years or more, please let me know by posting a comment.
1852: Breitbach's Country Dining, Balltown 6th generation (restaurant)
1854: Hands Jewelers, Iowa City 4th generation (retail jeweler)
1854: Saboe Jewelry, West Union 2nd generation (retail jeweler)
1855: Morrison Brothers Company, Dubuque 3rd generation (manufacturing equipment)
1856: AY McDonald Manufacturing, Dubuque 5th generation (manufacturing medal products)
1856: Hubbell Realty, Des Moines 5th generation (construction & development)
1856: Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home, Fort Dodge 5th generation (funeral services)
1866: Kurtz Hardware, Des Moines 5th generation (wholesale hardware)
1870: Klauer Manufacturing, Dubuque 5th generation (metal building products)
1870: Molo Companies, Dubuque 4th generation (petroleum/HVAC products & services)
1872: Chesterman Company, Sioux City 5th generation (beverage bottler & distribution)
1872: Russell Abstract & Title, Adel 5th generation
1872: Von Maur, Davenport 4th generation (department store)
1876: Decorah Greenhouses, Decorah private (retail florist)
1876: Lenz Monuments, Dubuque private (stone memorial products)
1877: Mechanical Air Systems, Mason City private (HVAC/plumbing contractor)
1878: Home Mutual Insurance Association of Carroll County, Manning mutual (insurance carrier)
1883: The Adams Company, Dubuque private (manufacturing metal parts)
1884: ALMACO, Nevada 5th generation (manufacture machinery)
1887: Cottingham & Butler, Dubuque 3rd & 4th generations (insurance broker)
1890: EJ Voggenthaler, Dubuque 4th generation (steel building materials)
1890: Engquist Lumber, Harcourt 4th generation (lumber & building materials)
1890: Marshalltown, Marshalltown private (manufacturing tools)
1891: H.L. Munn Lumber, Ames 5th generation (lumber & building materials)
1892: Geisler Brothers Company, Dubuque 5th generation (HVAC services)
1892: Seiffert Building Supplies, Davenport 2nd generation (lumber & building materials)
1893: Abeln Abstract & Title Company, Dubuque 2nd generation (real estate services)
1893: Mulgrew/Perfection Oil, Tamarack Park 4th generation? (petroleum products)
1893: West Bancorp, West Des Moines public (banking & financial services)
1894: Union-Hoeman Press, Dubuque 3rd generation (commercial printing)
1897: Kintzinger Harmon Konrady, Des Moines private (law firm)
1898: FEH Design, Des Moines private (architects)
1903: Conlon Construction, Dubuque 4th generation (construction)
1903: Lisle Corporation, Clarinda 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th generations (manufacturing tools)
1904: Hartig Drug, Dubuque 4th generation (retail drugstore)
1904: Spahn & Rose Lumber, Dubuque 4th generation (lumber & building materials)
1905: Atlantic Bottling, Clarinda 3rd generation (beverage bottling & distribution)
1905: Farmers Lumber, Rock Valley co-op (lumber & building materials)
1907: Smith Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Grinnell 5th generation (funeral services)
1909: Bauman's, Mount Vernon private (retail apparel)
1910: Fidelity Bank & Trust, Dyersville private (banking & financial services)
1910: Remsen Farmers Cooperative, Remsen co-op (agricultural services)
1911: Employers Mutual Casualty, Des Moines public (insurance carrier)
1914: American Pop Corn (Jolly Time), Sioux City 4th generation (popcorn & snacks)
1916: Lime Rock Springs/Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Dubuque, Dubuque 4th generation (beverage bottling & distribution)
1917: G&L Clothing, Des Moines private (retail apparel)
1920: O'Conner, Brooks & Co., Dubuque private (CPA/accounting services)
1920: Two Rivers Cooperative, Pella co-op (agricultural services)
1920s: Carter Printing, Des Moines 4th generation? (printing & publishing)
1924: Joetown Garage, Kalona private
[1925: Pella Corporation, Pella 3rd generation? (building products)]
Learn more about how these companies managed to thrive for a century and more in my book Lessons From Century Club Companies: Managing for Long-Term Success available in paperback and as an eBook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Hello we would like to be put on this list. Our business was founded in 1876. And has remained in tack even with the original building in use. How do we get on the list? Thank yoy!
ReplyDeleteyou! DECORAH GREENHOUSE
DeleteThank you for your comment - I will add Decorah Greenhouses to my Century Club list
ReplyDeleteHi! We would love to be added to this list. Russell Abstract was founded in 1872 and has been family ran since the start. We also are still in the original building. Please let us know if any other is needed, we would to be added.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the info - I have added 5th generation Russell Abstract to my data base
ReplyDeleteFounded in 1884 in Ames, IA, ALMACO (Allan Machine Company) is the oldest existing business in Story County. We design, manufacture, and support technology for the seed industry. 6th generation has started working part-time through the summers. Check us out here: https://www.almaco.com/about-almaco/
ReplyDeleteThank you for the info on ALMACO - I will add them to the list!
ReplyDeleteThe Joetown Garage in Joetown, Iowa (near Kalona) has been in the family and turns 100 this year.
ReplyDeleteThank you - I just added Joetown Garage to my data base
ReplyDelete