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Dawson Metal celebrates 80th anniversary

Eighty years ago, Dawson Metal began when two men in a boat on Chautauqua Lake in 1946 decided they wanted to start their own business.

Recently, David Dawson, current third-generation family owner and president of Dawson Metal, reflected back on both the business's history and future as the company celebrated its 80th anniversary on Saturday. The business was started by Dawson's grandfather, who came to Jamestown from Sweden at 14 years old, and his father.

"His brother had preceded him by two years, and he left when he was 14 years old from Sweden," Dawson said. "They came to Jamestown, New York, which was a big location for a number of Swedish immigrants. My grandfather came through Ellis Island and got on the Erie-Lackawanna railroad and met his brother here in Jamestown."

Neither spoke a word of English, Dawson said, but his grandfather was able to immediately get a job as a commercial fisherman in Westfield. He learned to speak English and got a job with Dahlstrom Manufacturing in Jamestown, which Dawson said is a sheet metal company that no longer exists. His grandfather went on to be the plant manager there.

Dawson's father was a captain in the Navy during World War II and an engineer, graduating from the University of Cincinnati School of Engineering.

"The two of them went on a boat in the middle of Chautauqua Lake with plans to catch a muskie, and decided that now was the time for them to try and start their own business," Dawson said. "They decided they would join forces and make a company, and they did, creating Dawson in 1946, the year after the end of the war."

Changes over the years mostly include the size and locations of the company, beginning on First Street with eight or nine employees, moving to Harrison Street, going up to about 20 people and going from 7,000 to 8,000 square feet on First Street to about 25,000 square feet on Harrison Street. They were on Harrison Street until they moved to their current location at 825 Allen Street. The size of the plant doubled again to about 45,000 square feet and 30 employees.

"Each time they made the move they doubled the size of the work force," Dawson said. "We've been here ever since the early 1960s and of course, my grandfather passed around 1980. My siblings and I took over in 1982 from my dad. We've grown the business ever since then."

The business now has 100,000 square feet, including Spray Tech in the town of Ellicott, which is the business's painting and finishing facility. Combined, there are about 100 employees at Dawson with the two facilities. Dawson added that technology is the biggest change, being a technology driven company with machinery that is the latest sheet metal equipment able to be purchased, and the office is staffed by engineers who can produce the engineering requirements to make good parts. They have done business for multiple different industries all over the world.

Reaching the 80th anniversary, Dawson said the business is continuing to grow, adding people and technology, along with new customers. He added they have a commitment to the future, and they are very loyal to both their employees and community, also working well with community leaders.

"I'm proud of what my grandfather and father started 80 years ago," Dawson said. "I only wish I could walk them down and through the plant and show them what we are doing in their name. I'm proud of my family heritage. A lot of businesses don't make it to the third generation and I'm also very pleased that we've been able to do that and continue to grow. We have great plans for future growth and I believe we have the strongest and most talented workforce we've ever had in the 80 years we've been alive, right now."

Looking towards the future, Dawson said they plan to continue to grow, add customers, and probably end up growing their physical plant as they grow out of the current footprint of both Dawson and Spray Tech. With a lot of growth currently in the works, he said they expect to add employees and continue to grow the size of Dawson Metal.

"Dawson Metal is an important employer in Jamestown," Dawson said. "We have a great workforce and we're planning on continuing for the next number of years to do the same thing, and that is to support our employees and our customers, and to grow the business."