When Congressman Bill Keating meandered into The Jug Shop on Friday in an effort to get to know local business owners, he didn't know he'd be reuniting with old friends.

The Jug Shop owner Ernesto De Ponte, a native of Portugal, got his first job in the U.S. at The Foxboro Company — now Invensys — nearly 40 years ago.

There, De Ponte became friends with Keating's father, who worked in security.

De Ponte, who still works for that same company, then got to know Bill Keating after getting involved with his State Senate campaigns in the 1980s.

"He's a good man," De Ponte said, still beaming from the surprise visit.

De Ponte's wife, Adelaide, said she recognized Keating right away.

Even De Ponte's youngest son, 29-year-old David, recalled getting involved.

"I remember freezing in November, holding a sign," he said with a laugh.

"Now David is taller than the signs!" Keating noted.

Keating, a Bourne democrat, took a tour of Main Street after attending the rededication ceremony for Pezzoli Square on Friday morning. He is running for re-election in the newly-formed 9th district of Massachusetts.