Nello L. Teer Company was a privately owned General Contracting firm founded in 1909 by Nello Leguy Teer.[1] It was headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, and grew to be one of the largest construction companies in the world.[2]Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based global chemical and materials company Koppers purchased the company[when?] and today[as of?] much of the aggregate assets are part of Lehigh Hanson - Heidelberg Materials in North America, rail assets are part of CSX, the road construction aspects are held within the Colas Group,[3] and some of the real estate management aspects were transferred to Teer Associates.[4]
The Building Division was officially launched in 1965, but it was not until 1973, The Nello Teer Company bought Romeo Guest Associates of Greensboro,[7] a well-established industrial building firm. With 80 years of experience, Romeo Guest Associates became the Building Division of the Nello L. Teer Company without any changes in management. The experienced Guest firm built major manufacturing plants in 13 states, a distinction that added a competitive element to the Nello L. Teer Company’s newly formed Heavy and Industrial Division. Today Romeo Guest Associates, Inc., is an employee-owned company based in Durham, North Carolina.[8]
Central American Division
In 1955, the Central American Division opens its headquarters in Guatemala City, marking the launch of Nello L. Teer International.
Central Engineering and Contracting Corporation
In 1940, Central Engineering and Contracting Corporation opens and is responsible for owning and maintaining the company’s equipment. In 1980, the company owned over 5,000 pieces of yellow iron that was located in North America, Central America, Africa, and the Middle East.
Concrete Paving Division
The Concrete paving Division was started to pave the Colonial Highway, Williamsburg, Virginia.
Dredging Division
In 1955, the Dredging Division was started with work in Florida, Virginia and later Maryland.[9]
Durham-Southern Railway
When the Nello L. Teer Company bought the Durham and Southern Railway in 1954, it was still using steam engines. Four Baldwin 1200 Horse power Diesel Electric Locomotives were purchased in 1956 to replace the steam locomotives.[10]
Quarry Division
The Quarry Division operated several quarries including the Crabtree Quarry[11] in Raleigh, North Carolina. Other quarries were located in Durham,[12] Holly Springs, New Bern, Princeton, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, and Rougemount.
Teer Enterprises
In, 1969 The Nello L. Teer Company signed a franchise agreement with Triangle Service Center, Incorporated, the for-profit arm of RTP developer Research Triangle Foundation. During the period of 1969 to 1979, the company completed the 128-room Governors Inn Hotel, 50 and 100 Park Offices. The company, in 1972, placed its real estate development assets in Teer Enterprises, Ltd. then launched the construction of 200 Park Offices and 300 Park Offices. The company started construction on 400 Park Offices in 1980 which was eventually occupied by GTE Government Systems and it then expanded Governors Inn to 203 rooms including additional meeting and lounge rooms. The Nello L. Teer Company merged with Koppers Company on August 1, 1980; however, the deal did not include Teer Enterprises. During 1982 the company began work on 500, 600, 700, and 800 Park Offices, which includes the IBM complex. Teer Enterprises was sold by the family in 1985 and management was transferred to a new company called Teer Associates.[4]
Webster County Coal Company
In 1974, the Nello L. Teer Company added another layer to its activities by entering the coal mining industry. The company started a surface mining division called Webster County Coal Company. The coal stripping division started in West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania on property previously owned by the company and areas owned by established mining businesses. The Nello L. Teer Company brought a new angle to the coal stripping process by applying highway construction techniques to surface mining. Using conventional construction equipment, the Webster County Coal Company’s mines were producing up to 1.2 million tons of high-grade coal annually.
Some Noteworthy Projects
North America
Blue Ridge Parkway - 17 Sections including the first and last[6][13][14][15][16]
Capeheart Housing Project - 849 Units (JV with H. L. Coble Construction Company) - Cherry Point, North Carolina (1959)
Capeheart Housing Project - 1500 Units (JV with H. L. Coble Construction Company & W. H. Weaver Construction Company) - Seymour Johnson Air Base
Smithland Dam, Kentucky (JV with[J.A. Jones Construction Company)
International
Africa
Great North Road - Tanzania, Africa
Four United States air bases in Morocco, Northern Africa including Nouasseur Air Base[19]
Atlas Constructors (A Joint Venture of Morrison-Knudsen, Nello L. Teer Company, Bates & Rogers Construction Corp., Blythe Bros. Company, and Ralph R. Mills Co., Inc.)
Dantopka-Akpakpa Bridge - Republic of Benin, West Africa
