Iconic Saint John Company Was Founded By Civil War Vet From Maine

The Simms Company, which will no longer be making its brushes in Saint John, had its beginnings in 1866. That's when Thomas Stockwell Simms, an American civil war veteran, invested his soldier's back pay and bonus in a small brush and broom operation in Portland, Maine. This fledgling enterprise moved  in 1872 to Saint John. 

David Goss knows more about Saint John history than just about anyone else and tells CHSJ News Simms played a huge role in the lives of many people on the west side. He says you will hardly meet anyone over 60 in that part of the city who hasn't had some connection with the company over the years.


Simms Corner used to be known as Avery's Corner and the company, which employed up to 500 workers at one time, had a building across the road on the former Centracare property which was used to house 60 factory girls if they had nowhere else to live.
 
Simms travelled all the way to the far east back in the early 1900's to get the best bristles and established a Baptist church in India which is still standing today.