NEWPORT — The end of an era is just around the corner at M.J. Harrington Jewelers with the pending retirement of long-time employee, Bill Howell. His last day at the 70-year-old business is Saturday, June 30th, then he’ll be heading back to his home state of Michigan.
Bill was born and brought up in Detroit. As a teenager, he participated in a co-op retail program offered by his high school and worked in a shoe store in the city’s bustling downtown. A jewelry store, with the intriguing name of Meyer’s Treasure Chest, was located nearby and Bill struck up a friendship with the manager. The business had its own jewelry repair shop that serviced the 18 stores in the Meyer chain.
After graduating from high school and beginning his college years, Bill started working part-time at Meyer’s taking in customers’ pieces for repair. He later became the company’s trainer for the take-in procedure. That turned into a full-time job and eight years later after achieving the role of Supervisor of the Repair Shop,
Bill went to work as the Manager of the Jewelry Department for another Detroit establishment, A.J. Foland, a catalog showroom company. The business grew to include six stores, three of which Bill helped to open.
He spent four years there then moved to Salem, Mass., where he worked as a buyer for Daniel Low & Co., a landmark gift and jewelry store serving affluent North Shore clients for more than 120 years. The company’s prominent patrons included General George Patton’s daughter.
Bill learned how to appraise fine sterling silver hollowware and flatware as well as exceptional jewelry pieces during his four years at Daniel Low & Co. From New England, Bill moved to Ithaca, N.Y., where he began a 17-year career at F.M. Abdulky Inc., a wholesale jewelry manufacturing company.
Most of his duties consisted of determining and ordering parts and supplies the craftsmen needed to create a wide variety of jewelry as well as special design work. In the fall of 1988, Bill met David Lantz of M.J. Harrington Jewelers who was also at Abdulky apprenticing as bench jeweler and the two struck up a friendship.
Dave eventually left the manufacturing sector to return to the family-run retail jewelry business and invited Bill to join him. In the summer of 2002, Bill arrived in New Hampshire, settled into his new position and made the Lake Sunapee Region his home for the next 16 years.
Bill’s son and his wife, along with their four children, live in Michigan so the decision to retire where roots run deep made sense. A comfortable house with a river view is waiting and he will head west in early July.
M.J. Harrington Jewelers is extending an invitation to Bill’s many friends to stop by the store on Main Street in Newport on Saturday, June 30th, his last day on the job, to wish him a fond farewell. Cake will be served as well as countless stories about his long and distinguished career.
Bill Howell leaves his mark as a quintessential professional who is as exceptional as the magnificent gems with which he has worked for half a century.
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