Manassas firm closes after 91 years

By: Bennie Scarton Jr. | Inside NoVA
Published: March 07, 2008

The Hesco Corporation -- at 91 years old believed to be the oldest family business in Manassas -- has sold all its remaining real property and has ceased operations.

The company was formed to sell generators before electric power became widespread throughout this area.

According to Edgar L. Parrish, president and board chairman, "On March 3, Hesco sold its property along Wellington Road between Route 28 and Ashton Avenue to AF & WB Enterprises LLC for $2,550,000, including its 20,000 square foot warehouse, industrial plant and improvements on Wellington Road, together with two contiguous parcels acquired from Lockheed Martin Corporation."

John M. Weber, Weber Ghadban & Associates Realtors, acted as the selling agent.

Following the sale of residual operating and municipal bond portfolios, Hesco will liquidate, said Parrish. Stock-holders are Thomas W. Bradford, A. Radford Compton, Eleanor W. Hyson, Shirley Hynson Wilson and Arthur W. Sinclair.

Hesco was founded in Occoquan in 1917 by its founder, Frederick R. Hynson, and moved its operations in the early 1920s to Battle Street, near the Manassas Depot.

At that time, there was little electricity in outlying areas. Hynson Electric & Supply Company began selling the first rural electrification Delco generating systems and copper wire to customers in the growing Manassas and Prince William County areas in the years prior to the formation of the Rural Electrical Administration in 1935. Frigidaire appliances were added later.

James E. Bradford Sr., who had previously worked for Southern Railway, soon joined as a silent partner and Alvin R. Compton, an early salesman for the company, invested as a third partner during the Depression in the 1930s.

In 1920, Bradford and his cross-silent partner Hynson opened an allied business -- a new automobile dealership on Center Street, operating it as Bradford Chevrolet until the 1950s. It was then purchased by C.L. "Buck" Wheat and later by Dudley J. Martin, the founder of Dudley Martin Chevrolet.

Warren N. Hynson joined his father in the growing Hesco business in 1942. During the period of wartime U.S. gas rationing, the younger Hynson devised an early means of continuing operations by powering a customer servicing vehicle with liquid propane gas as fuel stationed in an automobile truck.

Following World War II, Navy seaman Hynson and late Manassas City Councilman James E. Bradford Jr., who had joined his father in the business, directed the growth of Hesco, thus providing the same liquid propane gas to thou-sands of Prince William and surrounding county customers for 46 years from its plant property and warehouse on Wellington Road.

The three partners then incorporated as the Hesco Corporation, according to the engraved cornerstone. Frederick Hynson, James B Radford Sr. and Alvin Compton purchased the plant property in 1947 for $700. A division also sold furniture and appliances from a department store on Mathis Avenue and one in Dale City.

Hesco president Warren Hynson died suddenly in 1985. Following his death, Thomas W. Bradford began represent-ing the Bradford family interests and serving as Hesco's chief operating officer. Parrish was asked then by the Hynson family to become involved, and he served continuously as president of the corporation and also represented their interests.

Under Bradford and Parrish, managing together with third director Compton, Hesco began renting real estate at Mathis Avenue and Wellington Road, including a multi-year storage contract with the Washington Post Company, while slowly downsizing other operations.

In 1988, the liquid petroleum business and rolling fleet were sold to Columbia Gas T/A Commonwealth Propane Inc., Richmond. In 2002, Hesco sold its Mathis Avenue building to longstanding employees Warren Polen and Martha Garmen. Hesco Furniture was renamed Showcase Furniture and is still in operation.

Barbara H. Carne, Rodger W. Charin, Gregory S. Haase, A. Everett Hoeg III and Michael R. Vanderpool advised the corporation on the sale.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.