America's Oldest Family Businesses

What does it take to keep a closely held business in the family for hundreds of years? See Family Business Magazine. Such locally owned firms may be a protoype for socially consious business, since they do not have to be run to meet Wall Street expectations quarter by quarter. The family can take a long term perspective and consider part of its goal to be the thriving of the family itself and the surrounding community. Still, such businesses live in a competitive environment, always subject to being put out business or bought out.  Congrats to these going family owned concerns that have lasted for so many generations.