The brick-making business, owned and operated by Ted and Fred Spruitt, will celebrate its 100th century in March.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A century of history is written on the walls and books of Spruit Brothers Inc.'s GR's West Side office building.
The brick-making business, owned and operated by Ted and Fred Spruitt, will celebrate its 100th century in March.
A business built on strong foundations, the company is now in its third generation of owners.
The machine that sits in the back corner of the shop and presses the unformed bricks to make the whole operation work is almost as old as the shop itself.
“The 1950s, the 1940s. Somewhere there. Since World War II,” Ted said.
The brick press is one of the few remaining manual machines in the country still in operation. This is one of the final stages before being shipped to the customer and is what gives the brick its shape.
Much of the final product shaped Grand Rapids into what it is today.
“There were hundreds of jobs,” Ted said.
One of them, the Grand Rapids Public Museum, is steeped in the history of the Spruitt Brothers.
“My brother, he sold all the bricks to build the museum downtown,” Ted said.
Although they are celebrating great accomplishments, they are not without their difficult times.
“The two recessions we went through were tough,” Ted said. “The '80s, then 2008. And yet we survived.”
What is the secret to running a successful business?
“Over the years, I think it’s all about family,” Ted said. “I still feel their presence around me. Dad, it feels so good. You know, I say that because it's really cool. It keeps me going.”
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