At Least 5 U.S. Generational Companies Over 200 Years Old

In my research to find U.S. companies that qualify for membership in the Henokeins Association, I have identified five so far.  Membership requirements are that the company must have been in operation for over 200 years, managed by a descendant of the founder, and the family still owns the company - or at least the majority shares.  Here are my candidates:


The Avedis Zildjian Company was founded in Istanbul by Armenian Avedis Zildjian in the 17th century.  In 1929 Avedis III moved the cymbal company to America and it is currently located in Norwell, Massachusetts. At nearly 400 years old, Zildjian is currently run by fifteenth generation heirs and is generally recognized as the oldest family-owned business in the United States.

Seaside Inn was established in Kennebunkport, Maine some time before 1667 by John Gooch. Gooch arrived in the Cape Neddick area in 1637, commissioned by an agent of King Charles II to "reside on the ocean-front peninsula at the mouth of the Kennebunk River and ferry travelers across the River."  The inn has been in continuous operation by the Gooch family since its inception and is currently owned by the twelfth generation descendants.

Laird & Company is likely America's oldest distillery. William Laird emigrated to New Jersey from Scotland in 1698. While in Scotland it is believed that he was involved in the production of Scotch and upon his arrival in America applied his skills to the most abundant natural resource available in the area…apples.  Thus began his production of Applejack: the first known commercial record of Applejack sale was in 1780.  During  Prohibition, sixth and seventh generation Lairds kept the company running by producing other apple products (including "medicinal" apple brandy).  During World War II the plant was converted to dehydrated apple products to aid in the war effort, but all along the art of producing Applejack was passed on through the generations and today an eighth generation Laird runs the company. 

Billed as America's oldest hardwood lumber business, Alan McIlvain Company was founded by Hugh McIlvain in 1798.  Located south of Philadelphia, generations of the McIlvain family have provided lumber and millwork all over the world. The company survived the Embargo Act of 1807, the Civil War, and a fire that destroyed its lumberyard in 1906.  Providing lumber to shipyards during both World Wars, then closing its retail store to sell only to industrial clients in 1946, today the company is thriving and seventh generation family members have joined the company with plans to keep the business in the family well into the future.

Henokiens Association

In the process of preparing a presentation on my research to deliver to students at Hanze University in the Netherlands, I discovered an organization whose members are generational family-owned firms that are over 200 years old.  Called the Henokiens Association, this group shares common values which bring them together - values that echo the results of my research on 100-year-old companies in the U.S. and Japan.  200-year-old companies are unique in today's economic landscape and Henokiens members agree that it is these values that have enabled their extraordinary longevity, chief among them being respect for product quality and human relations, and special "know-how" passed with passion from generation to generation. 


The Henokiens Association today consists of 40 member companies, most of them European plus several Japanese firms.  Having identified at least three U.S. companies that qualify (in addition to being over 200 years old, the firm must be managed by a descendant of the founder, the family must still own the company - or at least the majority of shares, and the company must be in good financial health), I'm hoping to see American members in the future.  If you know of a company that qualifies to be a Henokien, please let me know!

Do Old Companies Tend to Exist in Geographic Clusters?

Recently I've been communicating with a woman from Philadelphia who has an interest in the unique concentration of old companies in the Italian Market area of South Philadelphia.  I have noticed a similar clustering in both Grand Rapids and the Holland/Zeeland area of West Michigan. This observation raises the question of whether it is the community that supports these companies leading to their long lives, or if there is some sort of mutual support system going on among the businesses themselves, or if there is something else leading to these clusters.  My research on 100-year-old companies does indicate that these firms feel a deep connection to their local communities, so perhaps this focus on relationships translates into a support system that keeps the businesses going.

Last week I saw the documentary film "Spinning Plates" which profiled a family restaurant (Brietbach's) in Iowa that was founded in 1861.  It had burned to the ground twice in recent years and both times the community and customers rallied to support the rebuilding.  It seems that many of these old businesses - particularly the generational family businesses - become treasured members of the community that everyone wants to see survive.  I can remember walking with my young children in downtown Holland (Michigan) one weekend when my daughter remarked "we are so lucky to live here."  When asked why she felt that way, she replied "because we have the Peanut Store!"  One of several 'century' businesses located on a three-block long main street, this candy store is one of our community's treasured  businesses, so associated with downtown Holland that if it were ever to close it would feel like losing a dear friend - not just for my family but for many, many others.

100 Year Old Company Profiles

Rather than duplicate entries, if you want to see the profiles of 100-year-old companies I'm posting this year, check out my tweets @vtenhaken on Twitter.  Today's was AmeriPride Services, one of the largest uniform rental and linen supply companies in North America, headquartered in Minnetonka, MN, still private and family-owned after 125 years.  I am in the middle of a list of companies founded in 1889 to highlight their 125th anniversary.  On the list so far:  Pendleton Woolen Mills in Portland, Oregon; McCormick & Company (spices) in Maryland; Modell's sporting goods stores in NY; and Varnum, a law firm in Grand Rapids, MI.  Though there are many financial institutions celebrating 125 years in 2014, you might be surprised at some of the others, so stay tuned!

150-year-old firms I profiled earlier include Renault Winery in Egg Harbor, New Jersey; First Horizon bank in Memphis; and Glatfelter - a global leader in specialty papers and fibers headquartered in York, PA.

Additions to Michigan's 100 Over 100

Last year I published a list of Michigan companies over 100 years old.  Since my list at the time came to exactly 100 firms I titled it "100 Over 100."  Two more old companies have come to my attention - both from Grand Rapids, making it a real 'hotbed' of companies that have thrived for over a century. The additions:

Varnum, established 1888; legal services
Koeze Company, established 1910; peanut butter, nuts & chocolate

I would love for my list of companies over 100 to grow even further, so please let me know when you find one.

Working for Old Companies

I just returned from visiting my parents (who are in their 80s and living in Florida).  Though my father has been retired for many years, the visit reminded me that my work background must have subconsciously influenced my research on old companies.  For all but two years of his life, my father worked for and then owned a small, country bank.  I worked there during high school - the beginning of what turned out to be a career of working for 100-year old companies: they were proud of the fact that - despite an armed bank robbery and the great depression - this little bank had always been open for their customers.   It was only when I was preparing a presentation for the Forbes/IBM conference a few years ago that I realized every organization I had worked for during my 45-year career is over 100 years old:  The Bank of Birnamwood (now Banner Banks but still independently owned); The Bank of Madison (subsequently M&I Bank, unfortunately a casualty of the recent financial crisis); Bunte's Pharmacy (a college gig - great fun working the soda fountain); General Electric; Herman Miller, Inc.; and now Hope College.  Given my research that has shown how the organizations that have survived for over 100 years tend to exhibit behaviors focused on building relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, and their communities, I feel privileged to have had such positive work experiences.  As we prepare to enter a new year, my wish is for more organizations to understand and begin to model the behaviors the old companies embody.  These companies are national treasures I feel we should honor - they deserve more attention and appreciation than our country gives them (as compared to Japan, where old companies are such treasured institutions they even have a name for them: shinise.)  So next year I will dedicate this blog and my twitter entrees (@vtenhaken) to profiles of our 100-year-old companies.

Michigan Companies Over 100 Years Old: The "Michigan Century Club"

Over the summer I posted on Twitter 100 companies in Michigan that are over 100 years old.  My hope is that we can convince Governor Snyder to start a "Century Club" honoring these businesses that have helped keep our state's economy running through good times and bad.  Here, in alphabetical order, is my list of the Michigan 100 over 100.  Let's celebrate them!

Acme Mfg.                             1910                             Auburn Hills

American Seating                    1886                             Grand Rapids

Armstrong Int’l                                                            Three Rivers                 5^th gen

Bahle’s (dept. store)                1876                             Suttons Bay                             

Bauer’s Jewelry                      1891                             Saginaw

Bissel                                      1889                             Grand Rapids

Bond Decorating                     1891                             Iron Mtn.

Brammal Industrial Supply      1873                              Benton Harbor

Buchley’s Shoes                     1894                              Bad Axe                       4^th gen

Buis Mattress                          1913                              Holland

Bulman Products                    1905                              Grand Rapids              

Carhartt                                  1889                              Dearborn
Cascarellis Restaurant              1909                             Albion                          4^th gen

Central Michigan Paper           1885                              Ada

Chelsea Lumber Co.                1908                             Chelsea

Chelsea Milling                                                              Chelsea

Chris Engel’s Greenhouse        1883                              Detroit

Corbishley’s Clothing              1876                               Bad Axe                       4^th gen

Crandill Funeral Homes            1902                            Fremont, White Cloud

Daniel Orr Sons Hardware       1875                             North Branch

Dekker’s Jewelry                                                          Zeeland

Detroit Store Fixture Co.          1898                             Detroit

DeVries Jewelers                     1901                             Grand Rapids

DeWitt Barrels                         1893                             Marne
Dickenson’s Hardware            1876                             Fennville

Diltrich Furs                             1893                             Detroit

Doncker’s Candies & Gifts      1896                      Marquette

Dykstra Funeral                                                            Holland

Ebonex Corp.                          1878                            Detroit Area

Edge- Sweets (ESCO)             1887                            Grand Rapids
Eikenhout, Inc.                         1894                            Grand Rapids

Ford Motor Co.                       1903                            Dearborn

Frankenmuth News                  1906                            Frankenmuth

Fris Office Outfitters                 1900                            Holland                           5^th gen

Fritz Family Restaurant             1902                            Richville                        5^th gen

GB Russo & Son               1905                           Grand Rapids  

Getz Dept. Store                       1880’s                         Marquette

Gilbert Chocolates                                                        Jackson

Golden Shoes                                                               Traverse City

Gordon Food Service                 1897                          Grand Rapids  

Graafscap Hardware                  1869                            Holland           

Groskopf’s Luggage                                                      Grand Rapids

Harley Ellis Devereaux               1908                            Southfield                    

Henry the Hatter                         1893                            Detroit

Herman’s Boy (Coffee Roaster) 1901                            Rockford

Herman Miller Inc.                      1905                            Zeeland                       

Herter Music                               1903                            Bay City

Hoekstra’s Hardware                  1867                            Kalamazoo

Homer Monumental Works         1889                            Homer

Holland Peanut Store                   1902                            Holland                        5^th gen
Independent Bank Corp               1864                            Ionia

Irwin Sealing                                                                    Grand Rapids

Jesperson’s Restaurant & Pie Shoppe 1903              Petoskey

Johnson’s Studio Camera             1892                            Cheboygan                   4^th gen

Kelloggs                                        1906                           Battle Creek

Kindel Furniture                             1901                           Grand Rapids
Koeze Co.                                     1910                           Grand Rapids

Kositchek’s                                   1865                            Lansing

Krzyske Bros Co.                          1890                           Monroe, Waltz

Langeland- Sterenlseng Funeral                                          Holland

Lokers Shoes                                 1913                            Holland

Mapes Furniture                            1892                             St. Ignace

Martins Shoe House                       1846                            Monroe                                   

Masters LaLonde Shoes                 1879                            Alpena

McClillan’s Frankenmuth Woolen Mill  1894                      Frankenmuth

Metcaff & Gonkhoff Funeral          1894                     Grand Rapids               5^th gen

Michigan Ladder                                                                Ypsilanti

Milkins Jewelers                            1905                             Wyandotte                   4^th gen

Model Drug & Apothecary Shop                                 Holland

Moore & Carter Lumber       1904                              Sandusky,  Croswell

Mosher’s Jewelers                         1898                            Port Huron                   4^th gen 

Murphy & Caris (Law Firm)        1905                       Fremont                                  

Nouman Corp. Dist. Center                                               Bay City

Oliver Products                              1890                            Grand Rapids              

Padnos                                                                               Holland                        4^th gen

Palmer Auto Svc.                                                               Frankenmuth

Perrigo                                            1887                           Allegan

Pomeroy Funeral Home                  1890                           Croswell

Power’s Clothing                            1892                            Jonesville

Raymond Hardware                        1850                            Port Sanilac

Reusch Jewelers                              1885                            Cheboygan                   4^th gen

Schaefer Bierleen Cars                     1852                            Frankenmuth                6^th gen

Sempliner’s Bride & Formal                                          Bay City

Sieb Plumbing, Heating & A/C  1868                            Monroe                                   

Siegel Jewelers                                1889                            Grand Rapids

Skaff Carpet & Furniture          1911                            Flint

Smith Floral & Greenhouse                                           Lansing

Star of the West Milling Co.             1840’s                         Frankenmuth

Steelcase                                                                             Grand Rapids                          

Steven’s Van Lines                          1905                            Saginaw               4^th &  5^th gen

Sunnyside Florist                                                                 Owosso

Superior Sports Store                       1909                            Holland                        4^th gen 

The Standard Companies                                                     West Michigan            

The Yale Expositor                           1882                           Yale

Vail Rubber Company                       1904                           St. Joseph
Varnum                                              1888                          Grand Rapids        

Vredeveld Shoes                                                                  Fremont

West Branch Flour Mill                     1892                           West Branch   

Whirlpool                                           1911                          St. Joe                         

Willis Sausage Co.                                                               Frankenmuth

Winglemire Furniture                        1858                            Holly

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing           1905                            Grand Rapids

Wolverine Worldwide                       1883                            Rockford         

WW Fairbairn & Sons              1890’s                         Alanson

Yaeger’s Shoes                                 1846                            Monroe                        5^th gen

Zeeland Print Shop                           1908                            Zeeland                        4^th gen