A 50-year-old business
forced to rebuild after its factories were destroyed in the great San
Francisco earthquake of 1906 now celebrates its
100th anniversary at
its second home here in Sunnyvale.
Northrop Grumman Corporation's Marine Systems
business unit is a provider of missile launch systems, propulsion systems and power generation systems for naval submarines and surface ships.
In 1906, it was known as the Joshua Hendy Iron Works, and
specialized in building mining and energy systems. After the
earthquake, the company was offered 32 free acres of agricultural land
by the Sunnyvale Land Company, which was eager to attract industry to
the young community to promote population growth. Company president
John Hendy, nephew of the founder, accepted the offer and new
facilities were built along the Southern Pacific Railroad's main line.