History

The story of Emery-Waterhouse began more than a century-and-a-half ago, when the tools of the trade included handwritten ledgers, invoices, and bills of lading. Since that time, Emery-Waterhouse has been on the forefront of employing every time- and money-saving invention to better serve our customers, starting with emerging technologies like typewriters and adding machines, all the way to today, using modern technologies that include automated accounting systems and computerized inventory control systems, order fulfillment, sales, and dispatching.

Emery-Waterhouse began as a single hardware store, one of many that lined Portland, Maine's Middle Street, known at the time as "Hardware Row." For much of its history, Emery-Waterhouse served both retail and commercial customers. As it grew, it carried many different products to serve the local community, including paint, roofing materials, automotive supplies and even toys — everything a general store in New England would stock in an age of independently owned and operated stores.

Emery-Waterhouse flourished during the building boom and expanding U.S. economy that followed World War II. Soon after, however, it had to battle to survive during a time of intense competition in the hardware industry. During this period, the number of hardware distributors in the country declined from more than 600 to about a dozen significant companies.

Since that time, Emery-Waterhouse has faced competition from many different companies. First, there was competition from emerging hardware chains. Then came big-box retailers. Today, in the face of ever-increasing competition, Emery-Waterhouse maintains a leading position as an independent hardlines and building materials distributor in the Northeast. While our feet are firmly planted in the past, we have a solid vision for the future.