Industrial Supply Company - Company History

Industrial Supply Company was incorporated on October 22, 1915, as a mine and industrial supply company in Brazil, Indiana, with its primary mission to service the needs of the coal mine operations located there along with the clay brick and tile companies in Clay and surrounding counties. Original officers of the organization were B.F. Crawford, President, MacMillan H. Johnson Sr., Vice President, James T. Simms, Secretary, and Harley R. Ireland Sr., Treasurer.

One of the founders of the organization and principal stockholder was Mr. Johnson. Originally from Ohio, he relocated at the age of sixteen to Indianapolis. Five years later, he moved to Brazil and entered the coal mining business. For many years, he was general manager of the Jackson Coal and Mining company near Brazil. Later, Mr. Johnson became vice president and general manager of Parke County Coal. Ultimately, these experiences led to his founding of the Industrial Supply Company.

Another founder was Mr. Johnson's son-in-law Harley R. Ireland Sr., who was born in Brazil and started his career at the age of twelve as an office boy for a local steel company. Several years later, he was made general superintendent of Hydraulic Press Brick Company's Brazil factory. Later, he was transferred to Zanesville, Ohio, to become general manager of that branch and was placed in charge of sales for southern Ohio and all of West Virginia. Eventually, Mr. Ireland severed his ties to Hydraulic so that he could devote his entire attention to Industrial Supply.

Meeting with singular success in Brazil and realizing the potential for business in the nearby city of Terre Haute, the corporation moved its main office and warehouse in 1919 to Terre Haute and leased property from the Bader Hotel at 322-328 North 9th Street. Just blocks from the Union Depot and the Crossroads of America, the hotel was named after its proprietor August Bader, a German immigrant. At this point, the Brazil facility then became a branch warehouse. At other nearby sites, Industrial Supply also maintained a pipe yard, a plumbing and heating warehouse, and a heavy steel products warehouse for many decades. In the mid 1920's, Howard C. Hill, an uncle to Harley R. Ireland III, joined the company as Vice-President. Mr. Hill was a faculty member at the University of Chicago and held degrees from three different universities - including Indiana University. Besides being a noted lecturer and author, Mr. Hill also served on the board of directors for a Chicago investment bond company.

During the year 1926, the company opened another branch in Bedford, Indiana, at a leased property in an attempt to gain additional business in that section of the state commonly known as the Stone Field - the limestone producing counties of Monroe and Lawrence. Current President Harley R. Ireland III, son of Harley R. Ireland, Sr., joined Industrial Supply in June 1931. He was a graduate of Brazil High School and had attended Indiana University. In 1932, then-General Manager Harley R. Ireland, Sr. passed away unexpectedly from a stroke; he was age forty-six. At this time, John B. Scofield, who had started out working at the Brazil branch in the early 1920's, became General Manager of Industrial Supply Company. Mr. Scofield was born and reared in Brazil, had attended Indiana University, and was a veteran of World War I. Due to the death of his father, Harley R. Ireland III was unable to continue his education at IU; he has since then spent his entire adult life working for Industrial Supply - except for a stint serving in the Army Air Corp during World War II.

In 1934, Industrial Supply decided to close the Bedford operation due to the adverse business conditions in the limestone industry during the Great Depression. President M. H. Johnson passed away in August 1936, and Howard C. Hill was elected President in February 1937. Mr. Hill served in that capacity until his death in June 1940. Three months later, John B. Scofield became President of Industrial Supply. Later, due to the volume of continually increasing business in Terre Haute during the World War II era, the company bought the entire Bader Hotel property and extensively remodeled the structure in 1945 to meet its growing warehousing needs.

In 1966, the corporation more than doubled its Terre Haute warehousing capacity to a total of more than 45,000 square feet. A 101 ft. x 140 ft. warehouse was built directly behind the former Bader Hotel property on Chestnut Street, and the nearby smaller warehouses were closed. This new building, which also featured an order counter, loading docks, and two large pipe sheds, was designed by Morton Levine and Associates. Basic layout was provided by Irving Footlick, who was a noted warehousing specialist. As a result of the overwhelming success of the new Terre Haute warehouse, the Brazil branch was phased out in May 1971. Since then, all operations have been centered at the Terre Haute site.

Following Mr. Scofield's death in 1978, the office of President was passed to Harley R. Ireland III. Donald M. Ireland, son of Harley, joined the firm full-time in May 1977, and became the fourth generation of his family to work for Industrial Supply Company. Before that, he had worked summers while attending Indiana University, and this part-time position had created an interest in pursuing a business career there after he received a bachelor's degree in business administration. Eventually, Donald Ireland became Vice-President in 1985. Industrial Supply was struck by a fire in December 1987 and luckily only sustained minor damage to the top floor and roof of the office building. In 1989, the company once again decided to modernize the facility and completely remodeled its offices.

In March 1990, the company decided to computerize all of its operations and began installation of a large, highly sophisticated mainframe computer system from Prophet 21 Inc. After many months of hard work by the company's personnel, the computer system went on-line on October 1, 1990. This new system automated many business functions that were previously manual such as order entry, purchasing, invoicing, accounting, and inventory management. Since then, the company has regularly upgraded it's computer hardware and software to ensure that it remains competitive in today's market.

Initially, the company capitalized on Mr. Johnson's background by specializing in mine, mill, and contractor supplies. But closely allied with the mine and mill supply trade was that of plumbing and heating; and in 1924, Industrial Supply expanded their product offering to include additional lines of plumbing, heating, and air conditioning products. Presently, the corporation operates as a general line distributor of pipe, valves, and fittings; industrial and water works supplies; abrasives and cutting tools; hand and electric tools; miscellaneous industrial supplies; plumbing fixtures, parts, and accessories; and heating and air conditioning products. Also, Industrial Supply is committed to continually reviewing and enhancing its product line offerings; for example, in 1994 the organization added an entirely new line of carbide products.

Industrial Supply turned eighty years old in 1995. As part of the anniversary celebration, the company published its first catalog, showcasing over 20,000 items, in May. On September 19, the company hosted a trade show featuring over 45 manufacturer booths, an open house, and reception. And Indiana Governor Evan Byah proclaimed October 22, 1995, as "Industrial Supply Co. Day in the State of Indiana, in honor of the 80th anniversary of a vital Hoosier institution, the dedicated men and women who founded it, and the people who run Industrial Supply today."

Industrial Supply was realizing growth and needed to expand its operations. As a result, the company decided to open a new branch in Danville, IL on December 1, 1998. The branch features an order counter, sales office and new warehouse.