Doug Brown, left, and his brother Dan, third from the left, share memories of the days the Brown family and Groninger family worked together with Cary Groninger, second from left and his father, Tom, on the right. InkFreeNews photos by Deb Patterson.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — Individuals traveled near and far Friday, Oct. 7, to help Dan, Doug and Andy Brown celebrate 100 years of Phend & Brown. The company had been solely operated by three generations until being acquired on Dec. 15, 2021, by Rieth-Riley Construction Inc., and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Rieth-Riley.

Dan Brown is now chairman emeritus. Andy Brown is president and Doug Brown is vice president.

The event was in appreciation to businesses the company has worked with over the years for their support.

Andy Brown, president; Doug Brown, vice president; and Dan Brown, chairman emeritus, are shown under the windblown balloons noting the 100th anniversary of the business. The three brothers are the third generation to operate the business started by their grandfather Ronald Brown, Harry Phend and Roy Treesh in 1922.

A large tent on the company’s property was decorated with black and gold balloons. The main table featured a pictorial history of the company, which continued on every table.

The guest list included representatives of companies Phend & Brown has worked with over the years that have supported the family-owned business. Representatives from the Dearborn, Mich., Chicago area and Indianapolis made the trip to join in the celebration. Town officials also participated in the event.

The Brown brothers greeted each guest and spent time reminiscing with longtime clients. Spouses of the brothers were on hand, and the Browns’ sister, Becky Alles, and her husband, Ted, were also in attendance.

Each guest was provided a gift bag containing a hat and a special glass bearing the company’s logo and commemoration of the celebration.

A lunch was provided by Ledgeview Brewing Co., Warsaw.

Officially, the company’s 100th anniversary was on Jan. 1, one day after the official transfer of ownership to Rieth-Riley took place.

Phend & Brown had its beginning in Milford on Jan. 1, 1922, when a partnership was formed by Harry Phend, Ronald Brown and Roy Treesh for the purpose of building gravel roads in northern Indiana counties. At that time roads were built using horse-drawn “slip scoops,” and a man and a team of horses could be hired for $5 for a 10-hour day.

After 1924, the company continued to grow as a partnership between Phend & Brown. The company expanded into state highway work in 1930 when it was awarded a contract for 10 miles of US 31 from LaPaz to South Bend. A number of state and county projects, including several bridges, were built by the firm during the ‘30s and ‘40s. During this time, the firm was joined by the two partners’ sons, Parker Phend and Robert Brown.

Asphalt work was added to the company’s line in 1952 with the purchase of one of the first portable “continuous mix” asphalt plants to be put to work in Indiana. With this new equipment the company was able to win a number of asphalt road contracts within the state from Indianapolis north. At the same time, the company’s fleet of earthmovers and bulldozers were kept busy grading on road and airport projects in the same general area.

With the death of Parker Phend in 1965, the company became completely owned by the Brown family. Robert Brown, second-generation owner and company president, was joined in the business by three sons, Dan, Doug and Andy. With the help of a number of skilled and experienced longtime employees, the growth of the company moved steadily into the third generation of owners.

A 100th anniversary celebration was held by Phend & Brown Oct. 7.

Robert Brown semi-retired as president of the company in 1995, but continued to stop by the office on a daily basis, never fully retiring until his death July 16, 2017. His sons took over the operations.

Phend & Brown is a general heavy and highway construction company contracting for public highway, street and road construction and reconstruction, as well as infrastructure for private commercial and residential development. Earthmoving, asphalt and concrete pavement, drainage, sewer and water are self-performed throughout northern Indiana.

The local company owns two asphalt plants, Leesburg Asphalt Plant, 76 W. 600N; and Disko Asphalt Plant, 3394 S. 1600E, Silver Lake. They also own Leesburg Sand and Gravel at 27 W. 600N.