Maine Memory Network

John Bundy Brown (1804-1881) began his career in the wholesale grocery business in Portland. His business later branched into sugar and molasses with the Portland Sugar Company, a very successful venture in which he involved his oldest son, Philip Henry Brown. The Portland Sugar Company suffered in the Great Fire of 1866, after which it never returned to its previous success. Brown turned his attention to his real estate and investment ventures, initially as Churchill, Browns & Mason, followed by the very successful Portland firm JB Brown & Sons.

Other ventures include railroads and hotels. After his death, he left behind a wealthy estate, of which his sons Philip Henry Brown and John Marshall Brown (the sons of JB Brown & Sons) were executors. Brown’s contributions to the architectural history of Portland included his home on the Western Promenade, Bramhall, and the JB Brown Block, and the construction of the Falmouth Hotel, all designed by his favorite architect, Charles Alexander of New York. The loss of his second son James Olcott Brown affected him deeply. He established the Brown memorial fund in James’ honor for excellence at Portland High School.

John Bundy Brown married Ann Matilda Greely, daughter of Portland’s Philip Greely in 1830. They had five children, Philip, James, Ellen, John Marshall, and their youngest, Matilda, who died within the first year of life.

The Portland Sugar House, owned and operated by J.B. Brown & Company (later JB Brown & Sons), refined sugar from molasses imported from the West Indies. One of the largest refineries in the United States during the era, it was all but destroyed in the Great Fire of 1866. JB Brown & Sons quickly rebuilt the factory, but the business soon closed due to increased competition and obsolete refining methods. The Portland Sugar House was located at the corner of Maple and York Streets in Portland.

The Portland Sugar Company suffered in the Great Fire of Portland on July 4, 1866, and never returned to its previous success. Even before the fire, John Bundy Brown turned his attention to real estate and investment ventures, initially as Churchill, Browns & Manson, followed by the very successful Portland firm JB Brown & Sons.

John Marshall Brown fought the fire, later recounting the experience to his then-fiancé, Alida Carroll and noting concern for his father, John Bundy Brown,
"When we reached the scene the whole of the immense building was in flames. We saw that all attempts to save it were fruitless & therefore devoted ourselves to that portion of the building where our office was and all our private papers, money & other valuables. For five hours we fought the fire but to no purpose. Everything was destroyed… the magnificent building was entirely consumed with its contents & the labor of 25 years seems blotted out altogether. Father was very cool and collected although we felt very anxious about his ability to bear the blow."

JB Brown’s immense wealth amassed from his businesses, including the Portland Sugar Company, allowed him to contribute to the architectural history of Portland.

The Portland Sugar House, owned and operated by J.B. Brown & Company (later JB Brown & Sons), refined sugar made from molasses produced in the Caribbean using slave labor. Maine shipping, business, and the timber industry benefited from this trade.

Brown's building commissions included "Bramhall," his palatial home on the Western Promenade built in 1860, the JB Brown Block, and the Falmouth Hotel, all designed by Brown's favorite architect, Charles A. Alexander of New York.

John Marshall Brown of Portland wrote to his fiance, Alida Carroll of Maryland, on July 6, 1866, two days after the Great Fire of Portland destroyed a large portion of the city, including his family's sugar house and offices.

Charles A. Alexander (1828-1888) designed Bramhall, John Bundy Brown's mansion on the Western Promenade. This is an architectural drawing of the mansion, which was built between 1855 and 1858.

Brown was one of Portland's wealthiest businessmen. He was involved in real estate and operated a sugar refinery.

Reconstructed from 14 shards found in an archaeological dig at 47 Brown Street in Portland in 2008, this pearlware bowl and lid have an underglaze hand-painted blue decoration of a floral Chinese motif. It might have been used as a sugar bowl.

In the 1600s, European importers sourced sugar from Asia and the Middle East. Because it was a rare and new commodity, there was no material culture associated with sugar. As a result, artists patterned the first sugar containers on Chinese covered rice bowls to hold and protect the sugar.

Pearlware, imported from England in large quantities between 1780 and 1860, was quite popular in the United States.