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Eight companies founded in 1880 have survived world wars, economic depression and multiple recessions to celebrate their 140th anniversaries this year. If they practice the longevity factors identified in my research ("Lessons From Century Club Companies: Managing for Long-Term Success") I expect they will make it through these trying times as well.
Ball Corporation, Broomfield CO (Public)
Citizens State Bank, Lena IL
Freeport Press, New Philadelphia PA
L. S. Starrett, Athol MA (Public, 5th generation, ESOP)
Sandersville Builders Supply, Sandersville GA (3rd generation)
Shaver Transportation, Portland OR (5th generation)
Usinger's, Milwaukee WI (4th generation)
Wiederkehr Wine Cellars, Altus AR (3rd & 4th generations)
145th anniversary may not seem like a major milestone, but think about what it takes for a company that began in 1875 to survive to 2020. These eight companies did it:
Anderson's Bookshops, Naperville IL, 5th generation (started as a pharmacy that also sold books, now three bookstores)
Chauvin Brothers, Chauvin LA, 5th generation (lumber and building materials)
Columbus McKinnon, Getzville NY, public (global equipment manufacturer)
Daniel Orr Sons Hardware, North Branch MI, 5th generation (retail hardware store)
Keep & Martinson Lumber, Tekonsha MI (lumber & building materials)
Normandin, San Jose CA, 5th generation (retail automotive)
Prudential, Newark NJ, public (global insurance & investments)
Schnipper, Britton & Stobaugh, Hot Springs AR (law firm)
The year was 1870. The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving black males the right to vote, became law. And of the many companies getting started as the United States was recovering from the Civil War, these 13 have survived to celebrate their 150th anniversaries in 2020. Eight are generational family companies; two are public. Five provide food or beverage products; four are in manufacturing; there's a bank, a bus line, a real estate investment firm, and a specialty construction firm (ironwork and masonry).
Androscoggin Bank, Lewiston ME
Brown-Forman, Louisville KY
Case's Pork Roll, Trenton NJ
Challenge Machinery, Norton Shores MI
Clark & Wilkins, Larchmont NY
DeCamp Bus Lines, Montclair NJ
Graeter's, Cincinnati OH
Kissling Interests, New York City NY
Pendery's, Dallas TX
Star of the West Milling, Frankenmuth MI
Tennant, Minneapolis MN
White's Marble Works, Sweetwater TN
Woodward Hexcel, Fort Collins CO
In 1865 the Civil War ended. Of the many businesses founded that year, these 12 have survived to celebrate their 155th anniversary. A few grew to be large companies, but all except one are privately owned - and ten are generational family businesses.
American Hotel Register, Vernon Hills IL, 3rd & 4th generation hospitality products and services
Cargill, Minnetonka MN, 6th generation agricultural products
Carter's, Atlanta GA, apparel manufacturer (public)
DWS Printing Associates, Deer Park IL, 5th generation printer specializing in labels
J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home, Charleston SC, 5th generation funeral services
Kipp Visual Systems, Baltimore MD, commercial security systems (private)
Kositcheck's, Lansing MI, 4th generation retail menswear
Lacy Foundries, Baltimore MD, 5th generation metal products
Langlois Pianos, Bremerton WA, 5th generation piano sales and service
Law Jones Funeral Home, Savanna IL, 2nd generation funeral services
Milliken & Company, Spartanburg SC, 4th generation textile products, floor coverings (and more)
Newman Galleries, Philadelphia PA, 5th generation art gallery and dealer
The Pony Express began its first run from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California; Abraham Lincoln was elected 16th President of the United States; South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union. And these seven companies opened for business. Two are 7th generation family operations, three are 5th generation, one is a "mutual" organization owned by its policy holders - all are private. Join me in congratulating these seven amazing firms on their 160th anniversary!
Graafschap Hardware, Holland MI 7th generation
Guardian Life Insurance, New York NY Mutual
James Thompson & Co, New York NY (textile dyer & finisher)
Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Homes, Holland MI 5th generation
The Requarth Co, Dayton OH 5th generation (lumber & building products)
W.A. Bean & Sons, Bangor ME 5th generation (butcher)
Wilson Bohannan Lock, Marion OH 7th generation (manufacture padlocks)
Of the eight companies founded in 1855 surviving into 2020 to celebrate their 165th anniversary, six are private and five of those are generational family-owned firms; the other two are public. We have two funeral homes, two real estate services firms, two very different manufacturing firms (one a diversified manufacturer of engineered industrial products and the other hand-crafted beds & mattresses), a forest products company, and a bank. Here is the list:
Baird & Warner, Chicago IL, 5th generation
Charles P. Rogers, New York City NY
Collins Companies, Portland OR, 5th generation
Crane, Stamford CT, public
David Funeral Chapel, Leavenworth KS, 7th generation
Dollar Bank, Pittsburgh PA, public
N.P. Dodge, Omaha NE, 5th generation
Schoedinger Funeral Homes, Columbus OH, 6th generation
An interesting mix of companies were started in 1850 and now celebrate their 170th anniversaries, proving you don't have to be in a certain industry in order to survive. Two of the eight are public and the other six are private - two in the 6th generation family ownership and one 7th generation. Two are manufacturers, though in very different areas (billiards and industrial technologies) and have branched beyond just manufacturing (retail and brand management); one financial giant; one art restorer; one jeweler; one hardware store; a wood products company; and a funeral home. Take a few minutes to reflect on what it has taken for these firms to weather the changes that have taken place over the past 170 years to remain in operation today.
A.E. Schmidt Billiards, Chesterfield MO - 6th generation
American Express, New York City NY
Matthews International, Pittsburgh PA
Oliver Brothers: Art Restoration & Conservation, Boston MA
Preusser Jewelers, Grand Rapids MI
Raymond Hardware, Port Sanilac MI
Stimson Lumber, Portland OR - 7th generation
Wilbert Funeral Home, Plaquemine LA - 6th generation
