|
 McClelland “M.J. “Brown,
a traveling salesman for the Tropical Paint Company arrived in Tiffin
, Ohio with little more than $300 in his
pocket. The year was 1936. The twenty-two year old with little formal education
from Whitesburg, Kentucky convinced a Green Springs, Ohio banker to loan
him sufficient money to purchase a pick-up truck and roofing materials.
Thus began what was to become the M.J. Brown Company.
He continued to sell paint in a six county area while also doing roofing
and painting jobs. His company, the M.J. Brown Decorating and Roofing
Company, specialized more on painting in the early days. The new company
first located at 98 West Market Street in downtown Tiffin, the site currently
a vacant field.
 Carol Stine answered an advertisement for an office girl in April
of 1953. Carol remembers M.J. saying “You’ll be like all the
rest. You’ll work a while then run off and get married somewhere.” He
was correct. Carol ran off to Ojai California in 1965 where she married
M.J. on February 14, Valentines Day. She continued working along side
M.J. until the late 80’s. She still drops in frequently for a visit.
The company relocated to it’s present Wall Street address in
1960. The original building has been expanded many times over the years
as
business demands required additional space. The M.J. Brown Company
was incorporated in 1965.
M.J., always a man on the go, developed a mobile home park on the site
of an abandoned stone quarry in 1968. Although operated by son Michael,
he continued to be involved with the day to day operation until the park
was sold in 1999. Carol remembers people coming from all around the Tiffin
area to view the Christmas lights and decorations. |
Other ventures include the conversion of a commercial
laundry building into small individual business spaces and the construction
of a manufacturing building on the site of the M.J. Brown Company.
Son Mark joined the company in 1978, followed by a second
son Matt in 1982. Mark remembers going from door to door in rural Ohio
with his father selling paint for the barns.
 The company traveled extensively throughout the eastern
and southern United States during the years from 1980 to 1992, primarily
supplying roofing and maintenance support for Uniroyal Tire, Chemical
and Textile Divisions.
The M.J. Brown Company performed maintenance, roofing
and sheet metal work for Whirlpool Corporation for 45 years and for
American Standard for more than 30 years.
M. J was active within the community, with membership
in the local Elks Club and a Life Member of the Green Springs ,Ohio
Lions Club. He was an avid gardener when not working, taking great
pride in his fruit trees. Many customers received unexpected gifts
of fruit and vegetables during the growing season.
 Matt paid tribute to his father when he said,” there
are three kinds of people. There are people who wait for something
to happen, people who wonder what will happen and people who make things
happen. He was the third type.”
M.J. died at age 86 in 2001, still active in the business.
The company continues it’s quality service under the direction
of President Matt Brown and Vice President Mark Brown.
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