In October 1921, an ice storm hit Seward, Nebraska, and Blue River Power Company needed help. The director of the utility, Burdette Boyes, called the Hughes brothers, who were windmill and home builders at the time, and asked the brothers to supply the wooden crossarms for the dozens of poles damaged by the storm.
One hundred years later, Hughes Brothers is still manufacturing crossarms for the transmission and distribution industry as well as many other components, such as braces, mounts, pole line hardware, fiberglass products and davit arms.
I joined Hughes Brothers at their 100th anniversary celebration this October. About 100 guests, including manufacturers' representatives and customers were treated to a spectacular structure test, lunch and dinner, a 3-hour tour of the factory campus, and new museum. As I toured the factory and viewed welding, pounding, machine operations, I could tell how proud every employee was of the tradition and quality here.
Here are a few images from the celebration.
