Nelson's Flowers in Mercer celebrates 100 years

Nelson's Flowers in Mercer, Pennsylvania is celebrating quite a milestone this year; 100 years in the same family, showing that a green thumb is apparently hereditary.

For more than a century, the flower shop's sat in its old familiar spot on East Venango Street. While it's been in the same family for 100 years, the business itself is actually quite a bit older.

"It started in 1890. My grandfather bought it from Sammy Smith," said Steve Thompson.

Joseph Nelson made that purchase 100 years ago, and the family's carried the torch ever since, handing it down to the kids and eventually the grandkids. His grandson, Randy Thompson, runs the shop these days; one of five brothers who grew up in the business.

"As a kid, I used to go in a panel truck with my grandfather on deliveries. He would pick up a lot of different things at a lot of different spots. That was a big deal for a kid that was five or six years old," said Randy Thompson, who along with his wife, took over Nelson's Flowers from his parents in 1983. 

"I remember interesting things like cooking potatoes in the steam beds. When we used to steam and pasteurize the soil, we used to cook chicken and potatoes in the steam beds. They'd come out piping hot, ready to go, in about an hour and a half," said Randy's younger brother Steve.

The business has evolved over the years. One of the most significant changes is when Steve branched out to form Nelson's Heirloom Gardens just down the road.

That part is a tribute to Steve and Randy's father, who worked alongside them until he was *94*.

"He just loved anytime you were building something new, you were going forward; always going forward. He was always happy about that. Whenever you were breaking ground for something or building anew, that was progress," said Steve Thompson.

One hundred years later, they're still at it; different faces now, but the same goals passed down from generation to generation.

"I think it's a landmark of, not success, and maybe success; doing things the right way," said Randy Thompson.

An idea that's truly a family tradition.

The question always veers toward what's next. So far, they're not sure if the fourth generation will take over down the road, but there is a fifth-generation, so we'll see if there might be a green thumb in that group as well.

You can learn more about the family's story and see additional photos on the Nelson's Heirloom Gardens website, located at 542 Greenville Rd. in Mercer. The original flower shop is located at 375 East Venango Street.