History
- Henry Carlson, Sr. immigrated to the United States in 1902. He began in the construction industry as a laborer and later worked as a skilled stonemason. With this construction knowledge, he joined with William A. Snitkey to form the Carlson-Snitkey Construction Company in 1919. In 1924, Henry Carlson acquired full ownership and the Company was renamed the Henry Carlson Company.
- The Company grew rapidly and by the 1930’s it was already considered one of the largest building and construction companies in the state of South Dakota. Under the leadership of Henry Carlson, Sr. the Company began constructing many of the landmark buildings throughout the state. Columbus College, which later became part of the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, the historic Alex Johnson Hotel in Rapid City, the State Capitol Annex in Pierre, Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, and the downtown Washington High School (now the Washington Pavilion) in Sioux Falls are just a few of the construction projects completed in the earlier days of the Company.
- Henry Carlson, Jr. first started with the Company as a laborer in 1943. After serving in World War II he joined the Company permanently in 1950. Taking over as President following the death of his father in 1961, Henry Jr. oversaw the construction of such local projects as the Sioux Falls Arena, the Airport Terminal Building, Ramkota Inn, the Minnehaha County Courthouse, the National Bank of South Dakota Building, the Sioux Falls Public Safety Building, as well as numerous additions and renovations to area schools and hospitals.
- Continuing in the family owned tradition, Henry "Chip" Carlson, III, joined his father in the business as a carpenter’s apprentice in the late 1970’s. Chip later earned a degree in Construction Management from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He moved into the Company’s management team in 1982 and is currently Vice-President of the Company.
- Today, the Henry Carlson Company continues to be one of the largest commercial construction employers in the state. The Company bids or negotiates work on all types of commercial construction—from new buildings to additions to renovations. Depending on the current work in progress, the Company employs anywhere from sixty to one hundred fifty employees.