1900 - 2000, A Century of Service

 Possibly the oldest continuing retail business in the town of Dalton, L.P. Adams Co. is a family owned and operated business with members of the seventh generation working there today.

 Founded in 1900 as Griswold and Adams, L.P. Adams has a long history of service to the community. But the company actually got its start several generations earlier. During the 1850s, an uncle, William H. Hawley, started a coal and feed business in Dalton. In 1884, Hawley sold the company to Thomas W. Ransbothan, who built it into one of the largest businesses in Western Massachusetts at the time.

 In 1890, Ransbotham bought the old Congregational Church building located on East Main Street in Dalton and moved it to Housatonic Street where it was converted into a dwelling and a feed and grain store.

 Ransbotham later sold the company to William H. Griswold and his partner Leroy P. Adams, who renamed the company Griswold and Adams and devoted their efforts to retailing flour, coal, grain and firewood. Griswold later sold his share of the business to L.P. Adams.

 On October 30, 1907, the renovated church building that housed L.P. Adams Co. was destroyed by fire. A new facility was built at the same location and is still in use today.

 L.P. Adams became well known throughout the area for rendering "prompt and capable service in everything pertaining to grain, flour, feeds, poultry supplies, coal, coke, and mason supplies." Coal and grain, such as Quaker dairy feeds and Ful-O-Pep Poultry feeds, were delivered by rail car to the back of the large building and stored upstairs. Cordwood was cut on company property in Middlefield at the site of an old stone quarry, loaded on flat cars and railed to the Dalton location on the Boston and Albany Railroad. The wood was stacked in front of the store and split to order with a vertical, mechanical splitter. That same splitter, rebuilt, may now be seen in the main lobby of the store.

 Upon his death in 1942, Leroy's son Henry Adams took over the family business. Leroy's grandson Harry A. Walton worked in the business as a schoolboy and after returning from service in World War II. In the mid 1950's Henry retired, putting Harry in charge of L.P.Adams Co., Inc.

 Harry expanded the business with his father, Harry "Pappy" Walton. It was Pappy's responsibility to drive around in his old Ford pickup truck every Friday night picking up accounts receivable. On at least one occasion, one of Pappy's chickens made part of the rounds on the running board.

 Under Harry's direction, the business grew with the help of his devoted wife Muriel, their three sons, Craig, Wayne, and Lee, family and friends. Upon Wayne's return from service in Vietnam, he joined his family in the ever-growing business.

 April 28, 1973 was L.P.'s grand opening of New Offices, showrooms and warehouse with a weeklong open house to show off the 7,000 square foot, two-story endeavor. In 1984, Wayne added an 18,000 square foot warehouse to store the expanding inventory necessary to serve the community.

 Meanwhile, Wayne's brother Lee concentrated on the fuel oil business and building the hardware and gardening department. He later opened the Hinsdale Hardware Store, a division of L.P.Adams Co. Lee left the company in 1989 going on to other ventures.

 Times change and in all those years L.P. Adams had to change with the times. The cordwood department was dropped and eventually coal, grain and most recently the sale of fuel oil followed. The "coal pocket" was torn down in 1970 and the fuel oil storage tanks were removed in 1999.

 Lumber, building materials, seasonal special wares, hardware, plumbing and electrical supplies now dominate the sales area and warehouse. Full planning, design, layout, quotation and personalized consultation occupy the second floor with bathroom and kitchen showrooms. Invoicing and inventories are all computerized.

 Most recently, Wayne's two sons, Todd and Cory have joined the business with an aim on the future. As with their father and grandfather, they're learning the business from the ground up, from sweeping floors to making deliveries.

 L.P. Adams Company's management and staff welcome old friends and new, from near and far to come join our celebration of 100 years. There's a hot cup of coffee and friendly conversation waiting for you.