History of Chown Hardware store ~ Family Business in Portland Oregon 1879-2004 ~ Architectural, Farming, Plumbing, Tools, Hardware

Title: Chown Hardware: Memoir of a Family Business

Author: Frank Chown as told to Susan Goschie and David Michael Smith

Description: No date (circa 2004). Wraps. Some light general wear and soiling to front cover; rear cover has a spot of soiling. Interior is clean. Ten pages of b/w photos. 145 pp. 8.5 x 5.5 inches. No copies noted on OCLC.

History of the Chown Hardware company of Portland, Oregon, 1879-2004. As of 2020 the company is still in prospering, now having been run by five generations of the Chown family. Founded by Francis R. Chown (originally of Kingston, Ontario, Canada), its original inventory of farm implements, logging supplies, construction materials and tools came by clipper ships from San Francisco. Today they are the oldest family owned and operated architectural hardware, plumbing, and lighting company in North America.

Contents:

The Early Chowns--Coming to America;
FR Chown--A Portland Pioneer;
D. B. Chown--Rising to the Occasion;
The Fourth Street Store--The Chown Era Begins;
Frank Chown--From Father to Son;
Don Hartvig--Just Like Family;
The Power of Promotion--The Art and Science of Selling;
Sixteenth Street Store--Expanding the Dream;
Building Relationships--Suppliers and Customers;
The Chown Hardware Family [documenting more than 19 key employees from early days];
Eleanor Chown--The Mrs. Makes Her Mark;
The Fourth Generation--AnotherNew Era Begins;
Epilogue--A Philosophy of Enduring Success.


Binding: Soft Cover
Condition: Very Good

Publisher: [privately printed]
Place: [Portland, Oregon]
Year: No date (circa 2004).

Keywords: Portland, Oregon, family businesses, companies, history, business histories;