The year is 1979, and the company is beginning its 95th year in the electrical contracting and wholesale supplies business. More changes were in store, including its business model and business structure.
After World War I, the Roland T. Oakes Co. recognized the need for a local electrical supply house, as the closest were in New York and New Haven, resulting in delays in transporting and obtaining needed materials. The supply house then became an adjunct to its electrical installation business.
Times were changing with increased competition from more electrical contractors in the field. The Oakes Co. abandoned the electrical contracting business and focused entirely on parts and supplies distribution. Although it is not clear as to when this actually occurred, news articles about that side of its business faded in the late 1960s.
In 1979, John Newton stated that 80% of the electrical supplies carried in inventory were unknown in their present form 20 years ago.
The company serves four major markets, supplying industrial installers, including service and maintenance parts, original equipment manufacturers, large contractors on significant projects, and finally, the small contractor and do-it-yourselfer.
The company employed twenty-five, including five in its sales force.
The newest area was in energy management systems, whether controlling heating or cooling. This proved to be a foreshadowing for commercial and residential, due to conservation or increasing energy costs. Large mills were billed additionally by utility companies for uneven energy usage. Companies were incentivized to relocate to the Sunbelt to save on utility costs (and taxes), so energy-saving devices were a way to level the playing field.
On July 4, 1992, John Newton Sr. died. His accomplishments in elevating the Oakes' businesses cannot be overstated, as reflected in this series. The company provided employment for many, was civic-minded, charitable, and contributed significantly to the electrification, repairs, and maintenance of mills, churches, and the needs of cities and towns.
On December 31, 2000, Horizon Solutions Corp. (later LLC) was formed, a merger of Oakes Electric Co., RERO Distribution Inc. of Rochester, New York, and Holmes Distributors Inc. of Portland, Maine.
In 2005, the 80 Commercial Street business site was sold to Horizons Solutions Inc.
On January 30, 2009, ground was broken in Holyoke's Crossroads Business Park for a new sales and training office for Horizons. It would employ twenty-five at the 701 Kelly Drive location.
In 2012, Horizons sold its Commercial Street property to 80 Commercial Street LLC. As of 2025, this real estate is occupied by the Gandara Mental Health Center.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Holyoke - Chicopee A Perspective, Ella Merkel Dicarlo, Publisher Transcript-Telegram, Holyoke, Massachusetts, 1982
Ancestry.com (paid subscription), Price & Lee City Directories, Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Assessors' Office, City of Holyoke, Massachusetts
MACRIS, Massachusetts Cultural Research Information System
Registry of Deeds, Hampden County, Springfield, Massachusetts
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