Charles Francis Adams (October 18, 1876 – October 2, 1947) was an American businessman and sports promoter who was the co-founder of the Boston Bruins. He was also owner of the Boston Braves and Suffolk Downs, and part-owner of The First National grocery store chain.
Early life
Adams was born in Newport, Vermont, on October 18, 1876, to Frank and Elizabeth (Benoit) Adams. His family struggled financially and at a young age Adams took a job as a chore boy at a corner grocery store to help subsidize the family's income. As a teenager Adams purchased logs for his father's sawmill.
Grocery career
After graduating from Jenney Business College in Enosburgh, Vermont, Adams moved to Springfield, Vermont, where he worked for his uncle Oscar Adams' wholesale grocery business. After working for a time as a traveling grocer and tobacco salesman, Adams moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he became treasurer of the New England Maple Syrup Company. He later worked for the Fitzgerald, Hubbard & Company banking and brokerage firm.
Adams left Fitzgerald, Hubbard & Company to work for the John T. Connor Company, which later became the First National Store Finast chain.
Boston Bruins
Adams was an avid hockey fan, watching amateur hockey in Boston and traveling to Montreal to watch professional hockey. After a scandal involving Boston amateur hockey players resulted in many Boston fans becoming disenchanted with amateur hockey, Adams decided to try to bring professional hockey to the United States. On November 1, 1924, Adams was awarded the Bruins franchise for $15,000. The team's original colors of brown and yellow came from the color scheme of First National.
