History

H.E. Smith Company, Inc. started from humble beginnings when Hal was working in the family business, a local feed and grain store in southeastern Massachusetts. The company traces its lineage back to the late 1800’s when feed supply stores were part of the local business landscape in New England, relied upon to provide for the needs of local farmers. 

In the late 19th century, Hal’s great-great-uncle, David Nelson, started the Avon Coal and Grain Company in Avon, Massachusetts. Upon Uncle David’s death, the farm supply part of the business was split from the coal and oil business and was left to his nephew, Harold E. Smith, who continued serving local farmers by providing feed, grain, and other supplies. The business was inherited by Harold’s only son, H.E. Smith II. “Junior” continued operating the family business and was joined by his only son, “Hal” (Harold E. Smith III), in the 1970’s.

In the early 1980’s, Hal bought a used 1971 Mack truck and started transporting his own grain to the family feed store. A few months later, Hal bought a handful of trailers at auction and began buying and transporting shavings from Maine to his store and a few other local retailers. Because of Hal’s reputation for honesty and fairness, the shavings business grew, and he was soon hauling from new suppliers in Maine, New Hampshire, and eastern Canada to retail outlets throughout New England. The rest, as they say, is history.

Hal doesn’t own that 1971 Mack truck anymore, and it’s a good thing, too. After a rebuilt engine and being stranded one too many times on the side of the highway, he got rid of that lemon. Today, we leave the trucking to the professionals. Our partnerships with reliable transporters allow us to serve our customers in an efficient and cost-effective manner.