Granite City Electric Supply:
A Century of Powering Progress

The history of Granite City Electric Supply Company is a true American success story. The company's founder, Nicholas V. Papani was born in 1896 in a small town on the shores of the Adriatic Sea in southern Italy. When Nick was 16 years old, he came to America not to find gold, but hopefully to find enough to eat. Like many immigrants in the early 1900's, he came through Ellis Island. He was alone, penniless, and uneducated.

After a series of odd jobs, he joined the United States Army. He was a self-taught musician, and was accepted to play clarinet in the Army Band during World War I. When he left the Army in 1919, he was granted a small stipend of money, but more important to him, he received his American citizenship in return for his service to his adopted land. He headed to Boston's Franklin Institute and received his journeyman's and later his master electrician's license, and began wiring homes on the south shore of Boston.

"Almost immediately I realized the great need and opportunity for a local electrical supply house in the Quincy area, with the entire South Shore as its potential market," Nick Papani reminisced on the company's 25th Anniversary.

And so, The Granite City Electric Supply Company, doing business as wholesalers of electrical equipment, was founded in 1923.

Nick Papani was a man of great humility, enormous integrity and deep compassion. He cared about people first. He demanded a sense of excellence and, somehow, the people around him rose to the challenges. He always said he was just a "little guy" and so he identified with those who were struggling. He understood the needs of electrical contractors and did everything he could to help them succeed. The company grew slowly and steadily and expanded its reach to Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard operating from its only location in Quincy.

In 1969, Nicholas Papani, as part of his succession plan, divested himself of the company stock, and his daughter Phyllis Papani Godwin became the principal owner. Nicholas Papani watched the company's gradual expansion into southeastern Massachusetts with pride. His failing lungs stopped functioning late in November 1984, and with them, his heart. His legacy of honesty, justice and compassion has been ingrained in the culture of the company.

Phyllis Papani Godwin developed and guided the next phase of growth for Granite City Electric Supply as Chairman and CEO, beginning a geographic expansion with branches in South Yarmouth (1973), Martha's Vineyard (1983) and Plymouth (1988). Along the way, Phylliss was recognized for the groundbreaking work she accomplished leading a woman owned business is the male dominated electrical supplies industry.

In 1999, Steven Helle joined the company and was named President and COO, bringing over 20 years of experience in the electrical industry. Under Steve's leadership, the company continued to expand into NH, VT and CT, through the acquisitions of JG Temple, with locations in Vermont and New Hampshire, C&I Electric (Lowell, MA), Electric Supply and Repair, Inc. (Pittsfield, MA), and The Whelan Co. (Hartford, CT).

In 2004 the company entered into a long-term partnership with the Boston Red Sox, continuing through today. Granite City Electric is the official distributor of electrical supplies and lighting to the Red Sox and Fenway Park. "This has been a fun, energizing relationship and we are delighted to be associated with an organization as rich in history and tradition as the Boston Red Sox," said Phyllis Papani Godwin.

Within the past 15 years, additional acquisitions include Columbia Electric Supply (Brockton, Taunton and Fall River, MA), Major Electric (Pawtucket RI, Norwich and Groton, CT) and Baynes Electrical Supply (Wareham, Nantucket, Marthas Vineyard), providing expanded New England coverage with 31 retail branch locations and 3 distribution centers that now serve thousands of electrical contractors, commercial and industrial customers, institutions, and the general public in 5 New England states plus Albany, New York.

Granite City Electric is proud of its heritage and the employees which have made its growth possible. We are continuing to move forward into our future with a focus on developing stronger relationships with our loyal customers!

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