The Willis Steel Story....
The year is 1891. H.F. Willis arrives in Galesburg from Canton, IL to join with his cousin I.H.Willis in establishing a new enterprise in this rapidly growing Western Illinois town of 15,000 people. The new business will be a shop for manufacturing sheet metal goods for the surrounding area homes and businesses. A location for the shop is found in a small frame building on Academy Street immediately North of the Santa Fe Railway tracks. Four persons are hired as the first employees of the new firm.
The first few years assure the young businessmen that their undertaking will be a success. Ornamental cornices for buildings, steeples, ventilators. marquise and other decorative iron products made by the new company result in good sales and are in increasing demand. At the turn of the century, H. F.Willis buys out his cousin, christens the new factory the Willis Manufacturing Company, and starts on the road to success.
Under the direction of his son, R. B.Willis, the company's manufacturing capability continued to grow with the addition of products including hollow metal double hung steel windows, tin clad wood fire doors and skylights. The small frame building grew into two large brick structures and business volume increased. Many of these products which were sold throughout the Central and Eastern U.S. through various manufacturer representatives, are still found in service today.
In the late 1930's, the firm began the wholesale distributing activities that continue today. The NAME of the firm was changed to Willis Steel Corporation and under the direction of R.E. Near, the son-in-law of R.B.Willis, a large warehouse was added and the wholesale distribution of steel and wire products such as fencing, nails, steel fence posts and other building, roofing and siding materials was begun. As sales for the firm's manufactured products declined., additional lines were taken on in the distribution business including warm air heating and air conditioning equipment and supplies.
May 9th, 1991 marked the company's 100th Anniversary in business since the original date of incorporation.
Today, under the direction of R. B. Near, great-grandson of the founder, Willis Steel Corporation stands on the same original site, but almost everything else has changed. The small frame building is now an office and two warehouses.Currently, Willis Steel Corporation, one of the oldest businesses in Galesburg under the same family ownership, is going through the process of closing. After a 100 years of service to Galesburg, West Central Illinois and Eastern Iowa, we have reached the point that it is time to close our doors.
We will maintain some sales until the final details are determined. We can make deliveries from our warehouse via common carrier as well as UPS and Parcel Post. Pickups are available by appointment.
Our home on the internet will continue to be willissteel.com which allows us to further serve our customers with up-to-date information.
Our roots in Galesburg and the surrounding area are as deep as our strong commitment to our customers. We appreciate the many special business and community relationships we have made over these many long years of doing business. We are proud to have been a part of the fine Western Illinois community, which continues to be a great place to live and work.