1844 - Blakeslee was started as a general contracting firm in New Haven, Connecticut by Charles Wells Blakeslee. The company grew steadily under him and three of his sons until, by the turn of the century, it employed 200 people and over 300 horses.

It is my creed to build for the future - to build quality and permanence - Charles Wells Blakeslee, 1865

In 1844, C. W. Blakeslee was founded. One of the oldest construction companies in the country, it has a significant history in southern New England. Blakeslee was one of the first to become involved with mechanized stone crushing, and to become involved with concrete pavement. Working in parts of three centuries, Blakeslee has contributed to the infrastructure of our region and has maintained the ideals of the founder for fairness and sound construction.
Highlights in Company History

Mouse over a picture in the Visual Timeline below to gets highlights from that era.

1872 - Mr. Blakeslee's son, Dennis A. Blakeslee (left photo), formed a partnership with his father under the name C. W. Blakeslee & Son.

1890 - A second son of Mr. Blakeslee, Dwight W. Blakeslee (center photo), entered the company, which became known as C. W. Blakeslee & Sons.

1895 - A third son of Mr. Blakeslee, Clarence Blakeslee (right photo), became a member of the company.

During these years, Blakeslee built dams, bridges, and roadways throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.

1910 - Installed one of the largest rock crushers of its time at a trap rock quarry in North Branford, CT.

1912 - Built four miles of cut and cover conduits and tunnel section for the Catskill Aqueduct for the New York Water Supply.

1914 - Blakeslee was a pioneer in cement concrete pavements, showing the way by paving the Milford Turnpike, in Milford, Connecticut.

1918 - Constructed Stevenson Dam on the Housatonic River, a CL&P hydro-electric development.

1920 - Paved thirty two miles of the Hartford-New London concrete highway.

1925 - Constructed the North Branford Water Supply for the New Haven Water Company which included main and auxiliary dams, four miles of tunnels, and a fully equipped construction camp.

1928 - Built piers for Koppers Connecticut Coke Company and T.A.D. Jones Company.

1929 - The firm was incorporated.

1932 - Built wharves and bulkheads for the United Illuminating Company at their Steel Point Station in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
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1993 - Excavation and site work at construction of Yale New Haven Hospital's new Pediatric and Oncology Building, New Haven, CT.

1996 - Improvements to Bargh Dam in Greenwich, CT.

1998 - Install new chemical storage tanks for Cytec Industries in Wallingford, CT.

1998 - Dock repairs at Haverstraw, NY.

1998 - Install pile foundations for Siemens Power Corp. Combined Cycle Power Plant in Bridgeport, CT.

1998 - Sheet pile bulkheads for both Logistec Corp. and United Illuminating in New Haven, CT.

1998-2003 - Rigging and millwrighting work for ExxonMobil, U.S. Surgical, United Illuminating, Wisvest, CYRO and Schick companies.

1999-2000 - Installed the pile foundations for Pfizer's Global Research Center in New London, CT.

2000 - Install Fender Systems at I-95 Bridge over Bridgeport Harbor.

2000-2002 - Build new Railroad Station at State and Chapel Streets in New Haven, CT.

2002 - Construct new State Pier in New London, CT.

2002 - Rehab machinery and some of the structure of the Swing Bridge over the Quinnipiac River at Grand Ave. in New Haven, CT.

2003 - Rehab machinery on Railroad Lift Bridge at Niantick, CT.

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1977-1978 - James Street New Haven, sewer bypass and siphon under the Quinnipiac River.

1978 - United Illuminating transmission line foundations in New Haven Harbor.

1979 - Millstone III intake structure excavation, Waterford, CT.

1984 - Replace bridge over railroad, bridge repair, and widening of I-95 in Stamford, CT.

1986-1988 - Remove highway toll plazas and improve roadways at I-95 in West Haven and the Meritt Parkway in Greenwich.

1986-1997 - Transport fly ash and maintain Milford, CT disposal site for United Illuminating's Bridgeport Harbor Generating Station.

1987 - Install water mains for SCCRWA in New Haven County.

1991 - Fender Systems installation for new Baldwin Bridge, I-95 over Connecticut River.

1991 - Rehab Railroad Bridge in Stamford, CT.

1992 - Rehab and improve the bridge structure and its machinery on the Swing Bridge over the Connecticut River at Haddam, CT.

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1962 - Roger Chapman began working for Blakeslee.

1963-1965 - Constructed I-91 through New Haven including bridges, retaining structures, roadways, and drainage.

1969 - Blakeslee was purchased by Westinghouse Electric Corporation.

1976 - A management group, led by Vincent Arpaia and Roger Chapman, purchased the construction arm of the company from Westinghouse, and renamed it Blakeslee Arpaia Chapman, Inc.

1976 - Modified the plant structure and installed new rolling mill at Waterbury Farrell's Detroit Strip Division plant in New Haven, CT.

1976-1978 - Constructed Piers #15 and 32 for US Navy at Groton, CT Submarine Base. Berths for Trident Submarines.
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1944 - Celebrated 100 years and completed construction of the 1,200 foot long concrete arched Cornwall Bridge in Cornwall, Connecticut.

1947 - Vincent Arpaia began working for Blakeslee.

1947-1952 - Installed major sanitation systems in New Haven Harbor. Built infrastructure for generating plants in Bridgeport and New Haven, steel docks for Atlantic Refining Company, oil tank field foundations for Esso Standard Oil Company, constructed Montville Power Plant, and resurfaced Derby Dam.

1956-1957 - Built "Q" Bridge over the Quinnipiac River on the Connecticut Turnpike, now I-95.
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