A Fortunate Train Trip

Johnson & Johnson has been headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, since the company got its start in 1886.  Believe it or not, this was due to a very fortunate railroad trip by James Wood Johnson. 

James Wood Johnson   Drawing of Johnson & Johnson First Building 

While looking for a factory location for the new company early in 1886, he was riding a westbound Pennsylvania Railroad train through New Jersey.  When the train slowed down to cross the Raritan River, Johnson looked out the window and saw a “To Let” sign on a four-story factory building in New Brunswick.  Johnson ended up renting the fourth floor of the building, a former wallpaper factory, which became the first home of Johnson & Johnson.  Besides having a convenient building for rent, New Brunswick was a rail, coach, waterway and commercial hub midway between New York and Philadelphia, and was home to a variety of small industries — like rubber companies, a needle factory, and a maker of fruit jars. 

This post was written by Margaret

Published in: Beginnings, Did You Know?, People | on July 12th, 2006 | No Comments »
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