The history of the Hussey antique jewelry brand, which belonged to the Baird-North company, began several years before its establishment in Providence. Company president George H Hussey, Sr., founded the Baird-North Co., a gold and silversmith, in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1895.

In October 1907, the company acquired a mail-order division and expanded to a large scale. To locate closer to major jewelry districts, George H Hussey decided to move to Providence. He purchased a significant tract of land, to construct a large brick building for his factory. The Husseys, father and son, moved their jewelry business to Providence in 1908.

George Hussey, Sr., died in 1909, and his son, George R Hussey (1884 – 1918), assumed the presidency. Thanks to his father’s leadership and his own business acumen, the company became one of the largest mail-order jewelry companies in the country.

George R Hussey

George R Hussey was born in Augusta, Maine, on May 29, 1884. He received his early education in the Augusta public schools and later attended Salem High School in Massachusetts. Then, he graduated from Salem Commercial School and the Waltham School of Horology. He also graduated from Dartmouth College.

After graduating from college, he joined his father’s company, Baird-North Co., where he received systematic training in various departments of the business. It was this deep understanding of business fundamentals that led to the success the company achieved under the leadership of George R Hussey, Jr.

Business expansion

The firm opened offices and subsidiaries in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and other states. Among the notable managers and representatives of the firm were A. H. Grapek (New York office), Godfrey Hyman (western representative), and Bertrand G. Slater (eastern representative). Besides, team of sales representatives were traveling to different states with “the Hussey Five Year Guaranteed Jewelry”.

George R Hussey, president of the Baird-North Co., manufacturing jewelers and silversmiths and mail order distributors, 861 Broad Street, Providence, died at his home, 179 Ontario Street, from pneumonia following an illness of only a few days with influenza.

Business closure

On 31st of December, 1919 the Baird-North Co., with James Fred Hussey as president was incorporated and merged with another large corporation. A retail store under the name of The Baird-North Co was opened at 89 Weybosset Street, Providence in 1929. However, the firm of Baird-North Co manufacturing jewelers ceased to exist after the death of George Hussey Jr.