| Smith Brothers Fisheries of Port Washington Wis. was one of the midwest's finiest family run businesses. Sadly, the business no longer es in operation, though there are plenty of fond memories. Smith Bros. Fisheries was founded in 1848, Gilbert Smith first cast his net into the "cool blue waters of Lake Michigan". It grew from a simple fishing operation into a conglomerate of small business ranging from the fishing tug, Oliver H. Smith, to Fish Markets, to restaurants in trendy Los Angeles, to the flagship restaurant and Fish Market in Port Washington. Eventually, Smith Brothers created Fish Day, the worlds largest one day Fish Fry, which is held the second weekend in July every summer. Fish Day is a bit of Americanna in itself, but that deserves its own web page. The label above (circa 1934) is an example of Smith Bros. marketing genius: the use of a stylized font, based on Delos Smith's signature, and the cartoon figure of a fisherman carrying home a large fish on his back. In reality, there really was a guy living in Port Washington, who unwittingly posed for a portrait carrying a sturgeon. The "fisherman" in the photo was not however, a Smith. He was an employee of the Smiths - well respected for his talent, and putting Smith Bros. on the grack to being one of the best fish smokehouses in the state. Today, there is a statue, based on the same fisherman, known as the "Fisherman's Statue" in "Rotary Park" in Port Washington. This statue has a plaque which lists the names of all the known commercial fishermen from Port Washington, including many a Smith. The Restaurants: The original Smith Bros. Fish Shanty Restaurant, Port Washington Wis. (circa. 1950's) Smith Bros. Restaurant Walteria, CA (now part of Torrance, CA) Smith Bros. Indian Village Restaurant, Torrance, CA (circa. 1968) Smith Bros. Fish Shanty Restaurant, La Cienega Los Angeles, CA (circa 1970) Smith Bros. Fish Shanty Restaurant, Port Washington (circa. 1970's) Port Washington Circa 1939 Family History: Ozaukee Press Article July 28, 1960 "Smith Bros Started 112 Years Ago" Memorbelia: Smith Bros Swizzle Stick Smith Bros related Links:: Brian Smith's Christmas Whistler Page The Other Bros. |
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| Smith Bros. Heritage Page |
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