Today is another sad memory day. Kathy Pearson, who we lost late last year, got her first paycheck from Easterday Construction Co., Inc. 40 years ago today. Her influence is still felt and will continue to be missed.
She would have liked my lunchtime comic. Check back for it!
Jeff Kenney did a history article on Easterday Construction for the Culver Citizen a few years ago. I ran across it on the Plymouth Pilot site here when I was looking for something else. I thought it would be good to reprint it here for posterity. Jeff did a nice job, but I did go back and make a couple of edits where he must have misheard things. Ha!
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*In nearly 90 years’ total existence, company has helped build major structures of Culver, beyond*
Sixty years ago this month, Culver’s longest lived construction company — and one which not only built some of the most prominent structures in this and surrounding communities, but had been connected to prestigious and notable buildings around the country — officially came into its own.
The Easterday Construction Company on Slate Street had already existed for some 30 years under the auspices of the James I. Barnes Construction Company, which was started by former Logansport mayor James Barnes in 1924.
Kevin L. Berger was reappointed as Culver’s representative to the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) Board of Directors. Berger has represented Culver since the corporation’s inception in 2007. Berger commented, “I am pleased that the Town Council continues to have confidence in my representation. I attend nearly every Town Council, Plan Commission and Redevelopment Commission meeting, to stay aware of what is going on in Culver. Through my involvement, MCEDC has been instrumental in updating Culver’s Tax Abatement program, bringing industry to the table to pursue Culver initiatives, moving the Entry Level Housing Task Force forward and most recently helping to put Culver initiatives into the Northern Indiana Regional Cities proposal and then following through to help assure our region was selected as a Regional Cities recipient.”
Easterday Construction Co., Inc. joining Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana on this date in 1983. Then company President Larry Berger signed ECC up as a member because we had similar goals and principals to those exposed by ABC. The organization has gone through some changes over the years, most notably the combining of ABC Indiana with ABC Kentucky, but for the most part the underlying core principals have remained the same and have remained aligned with those of Easterday Construction Co., Inc.
Over the past 25 years I have served on the regional council steering committee and have represented the regional council on the State Board of Directors and I am currently still serving on the State Board. At times I am disheartened that organizations such as these are necessary since a large part of ABC’s mission is to combat government overreach, special interest group agenda’s and just generally keeping its membership aware of the constantly changing regulations. But it is for those same reasons that Easterday Construction Co., Inc. has remained a member and we are thankful that the organization is there for us.
Who you’re seen with and who you associate with say a lot about you. Both the gentlemen in the article I copied below have been associated with Easterday Construction Co., Inc. Bobby Cooper, is actually Robert Cooper the third and when he worked with us, he was known as B3 since is father, Robert Cooper the second, has been with us somewhere around forever. Bobby was a “good kid” and we had talked to him about considering apprenticeship classes when the job opportunity came up at Clay. He had attended classes to be a fireman and had served as a volunteer. We were disappointed to see him leave, but still proud to have been associated with him. Fortunately I have not had to see him in action as a firefighter, but I have seen him first hand as an EMT helping with my grandparents and have been pleased with his compassion and professionalism.
Art Jacobs was partially responsible for our signing up for Insurance Services with Gibson Insurance. Art always dealt with us honestly and with a desire to know our business. I always felt like I was being informed rather than pressured for a sale. Again, I’ve been fortunate enough NOT to have seen Art in action as a fire fighter, but I have seen him discuss safety issues on many occasions and I have no doubt that he is composed, professional and knowledgeable in his position as Captain of the Plymouth Fire Department.
Reading the article below, I was not surprised that these two individuals would stop and help someone in distress. They take their compassion for the communities they serve personally. I am proud to know them and say that Easterday Construction Co., Inc. has been associated with them.
Article Source: The Pilot News, September 8, 2015