The history of a company often starts well before the official formation date just as a person's personality is formed by the events of many years. And so we start in 1889 when, at the age of 24, Richard H. Long took over the family shoe manufacturing business, John Long & Son, which had relocated from Weymouth to Braintree, MA during his father's lifetime.
There were many changes happening
in the shoe and textile industries at this time. With the introduction of the electric
sewing machine, the need for affordable electricity grew. R.H. Long, working
closely with John Scollard and Thomas Watson, presented
an application for the formation of a public power plant for the benefit of the
people of Braintree.
Construction was started and by October 1892 the Braintree Electric Light
Company began operations saving the residents of Braintree millions of dollars.
In 1895, in order to expand business R.H. Long advertised
throughout New England that "he would
establish a business in any small town where the business men would provide a
portion of the capital". Three businessmen from Belchertown, MA
agreed to an investment of $10,000 each with Mr. Long furnishing the same
amount and the R.H. Long Shoe Manufacturing Company was formed.
Business began to boom with the sale of The Traveler Shoe in Boston (the first store was located at 307 Washington St.) and The Waldorf Shoe in New York. These shoes were also sold to 'jobbers' wholesale at $1.85 and retailed in stores for only $2.50. They were a terrific success prompting a move to Springfield, MA where another factory was rented along with more retail stores.
Plagued by a lack of space in the Springfield factory, Mr. Long was quick to act when an opportunity arose. One day, as the story is often started, Mr. Long was riding a train through Framingham. Upon noticing a 'To Let' sign, he disembarked at the next stop, walked back to Framingham, and that day, signed a five year lease bringing his business and his growing family to Framingham, MA in 1902
Next: The Long Story - Part 2, Building a business and fighting a war.
