Ray's Electric and General Contracting
General, Electrical, and Mechanical Contractors
Company History
Ray’s Electric Inc. was founded in Berlin, NH by Raymond Binette Sr. and his wife Muriel in 1957. Starting out as a one man operation, Ray worked hard to provide his customers with the best service possible and he always went the extra mile for them. It is Ray’s philosophy of fully servicing customers that has attributed to the growth and success of the business. Starting as a small electric motor shop, the business grew to the diversified company that it is today. In Ray and Muriel’s image, we continue to provide great service and we don’t stop until our customers are satisfied. Ray’s Electric Inc. is currently owned and operated by two of Ray and Muriel’s sons, Steven Binette and Denis Binette.
Article by Historian Paul 'Poof' Tardiff on Ray's Electric:
Berlin Daily Sun
Published July 2015
I found a great story that was written in a November issue of the local paper which I would like to share with my readers. It was about the business of Ray's Electric Inc. This account tells how the owner, Ray Binette got his start in the electrical field and became a success story in the North Country.
Mr. Binette was considered and electrician's electrician and his reputation as a master in his field came step-by-step. He collected his first wages in this field at the age of thirteen and worked at his craft almost every day since. It was around 1959 when Ray decided to go out on his own and start a business. At first he repaired small appliances like toasters, also repairing small electric motors along with other things in his rent on York Street. So, his reputation and business began to grow and finally a break came when he won the electrical contract for the Federal Building (Post Office) on the Corner of Pleasant and Mount Forist Streets. He also started contract work for Eli Isaacson at about the same time.
Ray worked many hours and seven days a week to service his customers. His hard work paid off and the reputation for satisfaction made Ray's the biggest electrical contracting company in the North Country. In 1973 he opened a new shop and appliance store at 383 Jericho Road. This replaced his old shop on Wood Street near the Morris Company lumberyard. Ray was proud to have designed his new store by himself and build it with his men. Ray included his wife Muriel in his business and she operated the appliance and lighting department. Ray and his men serviced many companies and installed the electrical wiring at Brady Chevrolet in North Conway.
They also did all the work for the Appalachian Mountain Club buildings in Pinkham Notch, serviced the electrical parts of Wildcat and Attitash Ski areas, and wired the Town & Country Motor Inn after their first fire. Ray was especially proud of the fact that he employed local workmen and he often worked with the local Voc-Tech College, training them himself after they finished their schooling.
By 1974, Ray's Electric Incorporated was a big business and had come a long ways since 1959. Today (2015) this company continues to operate out of their Jericho Road business and still does well. Even though Ray and Muriel are no longer with us, their legend and business are still carried on by family members now.