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Mathews Brothers is a the oldest window manufacturer in the United States. Based in Belfast, Maine, the company has been producing windows since 1854.

In 1854 brothers Noah Merrill Mathews and Spencer Walcott Mathews began a partnership in a window sash and millworks company – called the N.M. & S.W. Mathews Company. In 1860 brother Sanford Hills Mathews joins the family business and the name is changed to Mathews & Co. By 1872, the brothers had expanded the products manufactured by Mathews & Co. to include doors, window sashes, blinds, shutters, window and door frames. On August 24, 1873, the company lost its storehouse on Front Street to the Great Fire of Belfast. The company reopened 70 days later at the corner of Cross and Miller streets as Mathews Brothers Company.

By 1899, after the deaths of Noah, Spencer and Sanford, the company officers are made up of Clara Starrett Mathews, president; Addie Richmond Mathews, vice-president; Maude Elizabeth Mathews, treasurer; and Orlando Ephraim Frost, superintendent. Maude tended to be the most involved in the company. At this time it was the largest Maine business owned by women.

In 1904 Orlando E. Frost assumes control of Mathews Brothers Company and adds spiral staircases and coffins to the company’s product line. Frost begins Mathews Brothers long standing tradition of community involvement with his commitment to the Waldo County General Hospital.

In 1906, Frost expands the company by building a warehouse on Front Street.

In late 1916 early 1917, Frost takes a contract to build a 5-masted schooner named the Jennie Flood Kreger. The keel was laid and construction started in early 1917. Mathews Brothers Company completes the construction and launch of the Jennie Flood Kreger in 1919 [March 5]. It was the largest vessel and the only 5-masted schooner to be built in Belfast, Maine.

Almost a decade later, Copeland Lang buys Mathews Brothers Company from O.E. Frost in 1928. Stock company formed and incorporated.

In 1946 Copeland Lang sells the company to his son Charles Lang and son-in-law Roger Haddock; with Roger becoming the next president and Charles assuming the role of treasurer. Charles becomes president only six years later after the early-and-untimely death of Roger.

In 1970 Mathews Brothers Company begins building insulated wood windows, an innovation to the shop grade wood windows.

A new era in Mathews Brothers Company is signified by the opening of the Belfast Factory Outlet, jump starting the retail division in 1977.

In 1978, Peter Haddock, son of Roger Haddock, and John Hawthorne buy Mathews Brothers Company from Charles Lang. Peter becomes the new president, and John becomes vice-president of operations. Mathews Brothers begins manufacturing its own insulated glass and the Rockland Factory Outlet opens on Rankin Street in 1981.

Mathews Brothers Company builds a new retail store and warehouse on the corner of Cross and Spring streets in downtown Belfast in 1985. At the same time Scott Hawthorne, John’s son, joins the Mathews Brothers family. In 1986, John Hawthorne buys Mathews Brothers from Peter Haddock and the two men were honored by the City of Belfast as businessmen of the year.

The third of Mathews Brothers retail stores open in Bangor in 1988. Also John makes Scott Hawthorne a minority partner in the company.

John Hawthorne purchases former Truitt Brothers plant on Perkins Road in 1989. Two years later the company moves to the new factory facilities vacating the old factory on Cross & Miller Street that has been used for over 100 years. That same year John Hawthorne, acting president; Peter Haddock, treasurer; and Mathews Brothers Company were featured on the cover of Business Digest for the month of June. In 1994, Mathews Brothers Company reaches 140 years in age, and celebrates by winning the Governor’s Award for Business Excellence. Introduced this year was the vinyl welding and cleaning system which they continue to use today. Corporate officers include John Hawthorne, president; Scott Hawthorne, vice-president; Peter Haddock, treasurer.

In 1998, John Hawthorne retires as president and steps down to chairman, making Scott Hawthorne the acting president of Mathews Brothers Company.

Mathews Brothers launches its Acadia Windows line, which uses closed cell PVC composite.

In 2000 and 2001, Mathews Brothers joins the American Window Alliance (AWA), then wins its first national industry award for small business marketing programs by Window & Door magazine presented to members of American Window Alliance. Additionally, Mathews Brothers was a featured company in Alice H. Anderson’s Company Secrets published in 2001.