Bruce & Merrilees celebrates 75th anniversary
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Dec. 4—Bruce & Merrilees Electric Co. marked its 75th anniversary in 2023.
Headquartered at 930 Cass St. in Shenango Township, the company is family-owned and operated by the Bruce family and now in its third generation.
This includes Chairman Robert J. Bruce, president and Chief Executive Officer Jay H. Bruce, Executive Vice President and Secretary Justin L. Bruce and Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Jonathan R. Bruce.
The company was started in 1948 by J. Howard Bruce, Robert's father.
Robert Bruce said his father, wanting to separate himself from his brother, Challice N. Bruce, who had the Bruce Electrical Supply Co. in New Castle, approached J.P. Merrilees, the owner of Merrilees Electric on the South Side, about taking over his shop, as he was planning to retire.
Thus, Bruce & Merrilees was born, as Bruce made a promise to the Merrilees family to forever keep the Merrilees name intact.
Beginning as an electrical installing and appliance company, the business has expanded tremendously over the years.
Today, the company has six locations. The other five include Pittsburgh, Sunbury, Toledo, Ohio, Steubenville, Ohio and Fairfax, Virginia.
The company employees more than 300 people and provides power plant installations, industrial lighting and signaling, engineering, tech services and 24/7 electrical support.
"Most people think of us as an electrical contractor. I think of us as a company that does safe work first and electrical work thereafter," said Jay Bruce, who is J. Howard Bruce's grandson. "The safe, professional, innovative services we provide today are the same values that my grandfather began this company with in 1948."
State Rep. Marla Brown (R-Lawrence) on Nov. 22 presented a state citation to the Bruce family on behalf of the company.
Jay Bruce said he attributes the company's success over the years to the hard work of its employees and the quality of the work they provide.
"It all comes down to the people," Jay Bruce said. "Our business each year is built on making sure that we continue to do what we say we're going to do. The vast majority of our work on an annual basis is repeat business. That's why we strive daily to deliver projects and services that help our clients grow and succeed."
A 15-minute documentary short film detailing the history of the company, featuring interviews by the four Bruces and other company officials is on the Bruce and Merrilees Electric Co. YouTube page.
