12 Companies Celebrate 125th Anniversaries in 2021

 

Of the 12 companies founded in 1896 still operating independently in 2021, just one is public (Tootsie Roll Industries) - and even they are run by a 2nd generation owner family member. Nine others are generational family firms. Representing a variety of industries and multiple states, here is the list:

Donckers Candies & Gifts, Marquette MI (retail confectionery)

Ed Miniat, South Holland IL (meat & poultry products) 4th & 5th generation

Hill and Griffith, Cincinnati OH (foundry & die casting products)

Lester Group, Martinsville VA (lumber products & real estate) 2nd generation

Leys, Christie & Co. Scarsdale NY (retail jewelers) 3rd generation

Lodge Manufacturing, South Pittsburg TN (manufacture cast iron pans) 5th generation

Matthews & Fields Lumber, Henrietta NY (lumber & building materials) 4th generation

Nugent Sand, Louisville KY (mining sand & gravel) 3rd generation

Paxton Media Group, Paducah KY (printing & publishing) 5th generation

Schmitt Music, Brooklyn Center MN (retail musical instruments) 3rd & 4th generations

The Breakers Palm Beach, Palm Beach FL (accommodation services) 4th generation

Tootsie Roll Industries, Chicago IL (candy products) public; 2nd generation

Note: Faultless Healthcare Linen  of Kansas City MO, also celebrates their 125th anniversary this year. I don't include them in the list, above, because a majority interest in the company was purchased and they are now listed as "an ImageFIRST company" rather than an independent firm.

195 Years in Business and Still Going Strong

 

Three U.S. companies founded in 1826 celebrate 195th anniversaries of operation this year - just 5 more years to make the 200 mark!

C.S. Osborne, Harrison NJ 8th generation (industrial, hand & leather tools manufacturer)

Lake Champlain Transportation, Burlington VT private - 2nd generation (ferry transport)

Union Oyster House, Boston MA private - 2nd generation? (seafood restaurant)

Century Club Companies With Significant Anniversaries in 2021

Every year in business past 100 is significant. However, these companies deserve a special shout-out for anniversaries of over 200 years:

325 years: Kenyon's Grist Mill, founded 1696, West Kingston RI  2nd generation

285 years: Lakeside Mills, founded 1736, Spindale NC  4th generation

255 years: Beekman Arms (inn and tavern), founded 1766, Rhinebeck NY 

235 years: Howard, Kohn, Sprague & FitzGerald (legal services), founded 1786, Hartford CT

220 years: Sawyer Bentwood (furniture), founded 1801, Whitingham VT 

215 years: Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie, founded 1806, Salem MA  4th generation

205 years: Hodgdon Yachts, founded 1816, East Boothbay ME, 5th generation

205 years: York Water, founded 1816, York PA, public utility

Celebrating 150 Years in Business

 

There are five companies in my Century Club data base founded in 1871, which means they would be celebrating their 150th anniversaries in 2021. However, I'm not quite sure how to position two of them, so I'll just tell you what I could find out and let you decide.

French Paper of Niles, Michigan is a 6th generation manufacturer of specialty paper products, much loved by graphic designers. Their goal is to "make paper that brings beauty to life." In 2019 they 'joined' with Finch Paper Holdings of Glen Falls, New York and are now part of Atlas Industry Holdings, a private investment and equity firm founded in 2002 located in Greenwich, Connecticut. News reports say French Paper continues to operate as an independent company.

Homer Loughlin China Company (HLC) of Newell, West Virginia is the maker of Fiesta tableware and Hall China. In 2020 HLC sold their food service division to Steelite International, a Newcastle PA company that had been purchased by Arbor Investments, a new York/Chicago private equity firm. HLC retained ownership of the Fiesta brand and has changed their name to Fiesta Tableware Company (though it appears that Steelite will be the manufacturer and distributor of Fiesta).

Kennebunk Savings Bank of Kennebunk, Maine is a privately-owned financial institution.

Ritter's Office Outfitters of Mansfield, Ohio is an employee-owned retail office products supplier.

White Rock Beverages is a 5th generation beverage company based in Whitestone, New York known for their high quality club soda, ginger ale and tonic water mixers.

Founded 1846 -- Still Going 175 Years Later

 

Four Century Club Companies celebrate their 175th anniversary in 2021: three are private and two of those are 5th generation shoe stores in the same town in Michigan! The one public business, Church & Dwight, is best known for their Arm & Hammer line of baking soda products, though they offer other well known brands as well (such as Pepsodent, Arrid, OxyClean, and Waterpik). Here is the list:

Church & Dwight Ewing, New Jersey public (consumer packaged goods)

Martin's Shoe House Monroe, Michigan 5th & 6th generation (retail shoe store)

Powell Valves (Wm. Powell Company) Cincinnati, Ohio private (industrial valve manufacturer)

Yaeger's Shoes Monroe, Michigan 5th generation (retail shoe store)

Two U.S. Companies Celebrate 200th Anniversaries in 2021

 

Two private companies have managed to survive since 1821 to celebrate their 200th anniversary this year. Hearty congratulations to these two businesses:

Bartlett Yarns Harmony, Maine

Hickok Boardman Insurance Burlington, Vermont

New Edition of Book Available

https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Century-Club-Companies-Long-Term/dp/0984898603

Pleased to announce a new version of my book is now available with an updated list of 1300 U.S. Century Club Companies, including 65 new members founded in 1919 and 1920 - and 27 founded before 1800! Only 12% of these companies are public, and approximately 60% are generational family firms.