Ferrara Spring Works celebrates 100 years of business

Date: 10/17/2012

SPRINGFIELD – Ferrara Spring Works, 3 Amboy Court, is celebrating its 100th year in business in Springfield.

In September 1912 Frank P. Ferrara opened a small blacksmith shop to repair steel wagon wheels and seat springs. A few years later his two young sons, Louis and Fred, began working alongside him learning the trade. Their hard work and diligence paid off and through the next two decades the trio expanded the business.

By the mid-1940s Frank L. Ferrara began working part time marking the third generation to work in the business. In 1955, he was instrumental in expanding the business for the next 25 years selling parts and supplies for cars and trucks throughout Western Massachusetts.

The 1960s and 1970s were busy times and in 1972 Grandfather Louis named Frank L. Ferrara president of the company. Frank guided the organization through another decade of prosperity, making Louis proud until he passed away in 1981.

In 1983, Frank, along with his wife Ann, made the decision to purchase the spring portion of the business from other family members, thus becoming Frank L. Ferrara Spring Works Inc. Over the next 23 years their combined efforts proved beneficial and the company continued to thrive. The fourth generation entered the business in 2007 when Frank and Ann's daughter Diane (Ferrara) Valentino took over the day-to-day operation.

This year, Diane's son Scott Valentino joined the company, representing the fifth generation of Ferrara's to work in the business.

The company celebrated its anniversary with the public on Oct. 13.