Family History
From out of Nova Scotia there were three brothers all from the lumber woods. The first, called Arthur Chisholm, came down and started working for Brunswick Balke & Collander Co.. Beginning with the odd jobs working his way into the specialized trade of the construction of Bowling Lanes, the year was 1897. After thirteen years his brother Earl joined him, both working for Brunswick. In 1918, at the age of 18, Ebenezer Chisholm joined the clan.
A rough and hardy bunch of Scottish Highlanders from the word GO, working all with hand tools such as every hole made with a brace and bit; sanding lanes were done by pulling a box of rocks over plummice and coating them by means of two men walking backwards with paint brushes, using Shellac, being completely inebriated with fumes at the end of the day.
Arthur continued with the company in Sales and Construction, with Earl becoming a Brunswick supervisor and Eben staring on his own in 1939, with his son Eben Jr (Ben) coming behind him.
The competition being Cane Co., Narraganset, Brunswick, and from 1961, A.M.F., along with other companies as Colombia Billiard, Johnson Anderson, Ray Fornier and Ed Russell. From 1950 Eben began to supply his own furniture adding parts and pieces of his own until 1960 when he had his own complete line.
Incorporating in 1961 as E.T. Chisholm Inc the rush had already begun. In the mid 50's with the Sherman Duck Pin machine and the Bowl-Mor Candlepin, the small ball game exploded in the New England area. Building lanes from Greenwich, CT. To Fort Kent, Maine, we were averaging 125 NEW small ball lanes per year, along with the competition doing about the same.
Of course at this time, 1957, a wise mouth kid from Roxbury met a girl named Judie Chisholm from Hyde Park. He, graduating from Boston Trade in the cabinet shop in the early 50's and on to Wentworth Institute to change his career into design and took his bride west.
In 1964 that young designer from California, named Bud, out of the Missile-Facilities Industry came back to join the family in the BOWLING-RUSH.
The rush passed into history through Chisholm Inc. The names of the LABOR FORCE, Francis Hirtle, Foster Burton, Wallace Ross, Ben Chisholm, Herb Primmer, Joe Tuscon, Willy Surrett, Norm Stow, Joe Barrett and Bud Joline. Through Bowl-Mor, Hank Drozdowicz, Tony Nali, Ted Nokes and Wayne Mac Donald to name a very, very few that got the job done - how is it - by Labor Day -- (maybe).
Some of those names are still remembered today and some fading into the past forever. But there is a story to tell of the men who made things happen, Camellos, Chisholm, Johnson, Eaton, Russell, Primmer, Hirtle and Burton. Some of whom carried payments, put the package together, signed on the line as a co-signer for more money than they were worth.
By 1968, Ben and Bud owned and operated Chisholm Inc., but were soon to part their ways. In 1971, Ben sold out and formed Ben Chisholm & Co., with Bud continuing in the industry there became a name change. E.T.Chisholm Inc. Became J.E. Corp. Incorporating three divisions, United Bowling a complete service and lane builder, United Industries a bowling equipment manufacturer and Decors de Arte the interior designer.
At the present time the company is comprised of two more sons to take J.E. Corp. into the next century. Ralph Joline II born in 1961, attended Syracuse University on a football scholarship, majoring in Interior Architecture he graduated in 1981. Bruno born in 1968, received a track scholarship and graduated from Northeastern University as a Business Major. Bruno also was chosen to represent the USA on the (4) man Bobsled Team. Due to a hamstring injury is career was cut short, but his experience was priceless. They now are engrossed with running the three divisions within the bowling industry.
You know THE REST OF THE STORY - So, when you see J.E. Corp with the symbol of the boar, it's not just a symbol, it's a TRADITION, it's the CHISHOLM FAMILY CREST :: NOTHING BUT HISTORY.
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