152 years old and counting: Historic B.F. Mahn & Sons keeps rolling to serve community
Beth Ross, vice president of B.F. Mahn & Sons in De Soto, said her family’s business of providing plumbing and HVAC services has weathered every conceivable type of economic storm since the company was established in 1868.
And COVID-19 is not getting in the way, either.
“We have made it through the Depression, multiple wars and stock market crashes,” Ross said. “There’s no challenge we’re not able to face.”
She said the business, located at 112 W. Clement St., has the deepest of roots.
“We are the oldest business in Jefferson County, which we learned from the Jefferson County government,” she said. “We knew we were the oldest in De Soto.”
Ross said calls for service have actually gone up during the COVID-19 crisis.
“Obviously, we are an essential business,” she said. “So, we were required to stay open. We have all been working eight to 10 hours a day. Everybody was working more than normal. We actually have job openings.”
She said it’s likely the virus itself has led to the uptick in calls.
“I believe more people have been home, so they’re more aware of their problems,” she said.
B.F. Mahn & Sons employees are following protocols to ensure safety when they visit homes and businesses, Ross said.
“Our employees have the personal protective equipment they need – gloves and masks,” she said. “We had stocked up in January for our normal year supply. We always practice good safety.”
The business confronted one challenge, early on in the pandemic, but overcame it.
“We had to make our own disinfectant for a while,” Ross said.
