E.E. Ward Transfer & Storage Co. is oldest Black-owned business in U.S

The 122-year-old E.E. Ward Transfer & Storage Co. in Columbus, OH, has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce as the oldest continuously running Black-owned business in the country, and it has no intentions of closing shop anytime soon.

Back in 1881 John T. Ward and his son William started the Ward Transfer Line with two men and two horses. In 1889, Edgar Earl Ward, John's youngest son, took over and renamed the company E.E. Ward Transfer and Storage Company.

In 1914, the company shifted to motorized equipment, retiring its last horse in 1921. In 1947, Eldon Ward, William's grandson, took over, retiring in 1996. Co-owners Brian Brooks, Ward's godson, and Otto Beatty III took over in 2001, marking the first time that the company was not owned by a member of the Ward family.

"We've been here for 2 1/2 years," Brooks said of the company with 17 full-time employees. "That's 2 1/2 years out of 122. We're a part of the story."

Previous store owner Eldon Ward, 89, who now lives in Sun Lakes, AZ, said he was happy for the two men and glad that the company, "would continue on in the name of Ward."

Now called E.E. Ward Moving & Storage Co., the company focuses mostly on residential and small business moves.

Brooks and Beatty, both 34, said they realize that the company's legacy is bigger than their role. U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) has read E.E. Ward's history into the Congressional Record, and the owners recently received a framed copy of the remarks.

"We're not trying to run the business on total emotions and sentiment," said Brooks, "but it is an anchor."