OUR HISTORY

In 1890, the year following the Great Lynn fire in Massachusetts, a partnership was formed between Louis G. Brockway and C. Fred Smith, under the name of Brockway & Smith. They took over the going concern of Burnham & Company, Mr. Brockway having already purchased the interest of Mr. Burnham, with whom he had been a partner in this business.

Brockway & Smith made a very modest start occupying not over one thousand feet of floor space in part of a building located on Broad Street, in Lynn, Massachusetts at the foot of Market Street, formerly known as a hotel by the name of “The Railroad House”. They dealt not only in doors and windows, but in hardware and paint as well.

The space on the first floor was used as a store. There were samples of windows and doors, and on shelves in a small space on one side was limited stock of builders’ hardware and paint, while on the floor were kegs of nails, etc., and on the wall hung an old-fashioned telephone, which was used largely by local people to whom its presence was advertised by a sign on the outside of the building.

Deliveries were made by horse drawn wagons until 1905 or 1906 when, shortly after moving to Washington Street North, they purchased a truck. This truck gave them plenty of trouble, for although it started out regularly with a load, it frequently had to be hauled back by a pair of horses. The truck was finally sold, and for a short time, horses were again used.

You can find BROSCO's complete and wonderful history HERE.