Part 3: Business Growth, Farrow Women Who Led the Way, and the Dawn of a New Era in Computing

Home About Bridging Borders, Building Trade Part 3: Business Growth, Farrow Women Who Led the Way, and the Dawn of a New Era in Computing

Russell A. Farrow Limited – The First Brick and Mortar Office

Taken in 1923, this historic photograph was looking West on Sandwich Street East (today Riverside Drive East), just east of the Peabody Bridge, over the Canadian National Railway tracks.

Twelve years after Russell A. Farrow got his start in the customs brokerage business within the Windsor/Walkerville, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, areas, it is believed that this was the first photographic image of a Farrow office captured on film.

The businesses in this area drove extensive commercial and trade activity at that time. On the left side of the street were the following businesses: Russell A. Farrow Customs Brokerage; Pratt & Whitney Company of Canada; John Bertram & Sons Company Limited; and Canadian National Railway Freight Depot. On the right of this photograph, are the Hiram Walker Distillery buildings, consisting of the Feed Mill and the Malt House, and the office of Hiram Walker. Today, all of these buildings have been demolished, and the area is mostly open space.

The Women Who Steered Farrow Forward

In 1949, after the sudden passing of Russell A. Farrow, leadership of the family business passed to his wife, Alice M. Farrow. At a time when few women led in business, Alice stepped in with resolve, incorporating the business as “Russell A. Farrow Limited”, and guiding the organization through seven pivotal years of transition. Her steady leadership kept operations reliable as post-war supply chains expanded and new infrastructure reshaped North American trade.

By the time Alice handed the reins to the next generation – Jane Scorgie (née Farrow), Bob R. Farrow, and Huntley J. Farrow, the company was poised for modernization. Jane, joined the company in 1970, and spent a decade in Finance and Human Resources professionalizing internal systems as Farrow grew, supporting expansion and preparing the business for the technological advances of the late 1970s.

Together, Alice and Jane exemplify the vital role of women in Farrow’s history. They ensured the company thrived from post-war rebuilding into the dawn of the digital age. Their combined influence preserved the family’s trade legacy and built a resilient foundation for innovation, bridging the era of ferry crossings and paper ledgers to computerized systems and cross-border efficiency.

Modernization and the Dawn of Computing at Farrow

By the 1970s, international trade was accelerating, and customs brokerage faced a new frontier: the digital age. Bob R. Farrow and Huntley J. Farrow emerged as forward-thinking leaders, determined to position the family business at the forefront of change.

Recognizing that speed, accuracy, and data management would define modern logistics, they pioneered Farrow’s first computing initiatives.

In 1978, the company installed its inaugural computer system, an ambitious move when most brokers still relied on paper ledgers. This early system streamlined customs documentation, improved tariff classification, and sped up duty calculations – all giving Farrow a decisive competitive edge.

Digitizing records also enabled real-time shipment tracking, faster responses to client needs, and adaptability to evolving regulatory requirements.

Just as Russell A. Farrow had leveraged ferries, rail tunnels, and bridges to transform early cross-border trade, Bob and Huntley harnessed computing power to modernize brokerage.

Their vision cemented Farrow as both a trusted broker and technological innovator, laying the groundwork for the advanced, integrated systems that define its operations today.