Much of the history of the cement industry in North America was written by ESSROC and its ancestor companies. The following timeline of ESSROC's evolution showcases historic highlights of a company that will always have a future...because we remember our past.

1866
Cement pioneer David O. Saylor founds the fledgling Coplay Cement Company near Allentown, PA.

Also in 1866, a group of six investors purchases Shippingport Mill, formerly a flour mill, and incorporate in Kentucky as the Louisville Hydraulic Cement, Water and Power Company. In 1869, J.B. Speed becomes superintendent and changes the name to the Louisville Cement Company.

1872
Saylor begins producing the first portland cement in North America

The first portland cement in North America was produced by Coplay Cement, a predecessor company of today's ESSROC. These historic Coplay kilns are preserved in tribute to their vital role in our industrial heritage.

1876
Popular European cement competitors trumped as newcomer Coplay Cement wins "Superior Quality" award at the International Exhibition of the United States Centennial Commission in Philadelphia.

1906
First shipment of Speed Portland Cement from company's new Portland cement plant built next to Speed, IN. natural cement plant.

1917
Louisville Cement patents the first masonry cement in North America, Brixment, manufactured at former natural cement plant. Early sales exceed historic annual levels of natural cement sales.

1929
Riverton Lime & Stone Company of Riverton Virginia begins producing colored Flamingo Brand Hydro-Hydraulic Lime.

1932
Coplay Cement designs and builds cement industry's first preheater kiln at Plant C in Coplay, PA.

1958
Lake Ontario Cement Company starts-up 1000 ton per day plant at Picton, Ontario including new deep water terminals at Rochester, NY and Toronto, ON.

Also in 1958, Alpha Portland Cement company begins production of portland and masonry cement at new plant in Frederick, MD

1969
Louisville Cement begins production of Brixment-in-Color line of colored cements for masonry.

1976
Coplay Cement Co. is purchased by Paris-based Ciments Francais for entry into the U.S. cement market.

1978
Ciments Francais rebuilds the company's Nazareth, PA production center into the most energy-efficient cement plant in North America.

1980
Through Coplay Cement, Ciments Francais purchases a second plant in Nazareth from Penn Dixie Cement Co.

1982
Alpha Portland's plant in Frederick, MD purchased by Ciments Francais.

1985
Louisville Cement Co. acquired, bringing Indiana plants at Speed and Logansport plus a vast network of distribution facilities from Chicago to the Carolinas.

1986
Lake Ontario Cement Co., owner of Aetna Cement in Michigan and Rochester Portland Cement Co. in New York, joins the growing network.

1989
Ciments Francais purchases U.S. admixture specialist Solvay Construction Materials and it becomes part of AXIM Concrete Technologies.

1990
Ciments Francais' North American holdings grouped under one name: ESSROC Corp.

U.S. operating company is ESSROC Materials, Inc.; Canadian holdings operated as ESSROC Canada, Inc.

San Juan Cement and selected assets of United States Cement Co. acquired.

1992
Italcementi Group in Bergamo, Italy purchases controlling interest in Ciments Francais.

1993
ESSROC launches "back to cement" restructuring program to focus on core competency.

ESSROC Quebec and Ciment Quebec form 50/50 joint venture.

Miron Cement in Quebec is acquired as part of a joint venture with Ciments Quebec.

1994
ESSROC purchases Lone Star Industries' Nazareth plant.

1996
ESSROC and Lafarge form Innocon, a 50/50 joint venture in Toronto, ON.

Bulk distribution terminal in Leetsdale, PA and import terminal in Wilder, KY further enhance our network distribution capabilities.

1997
ESSROC Materials, Inc. becomes ESSROC Cement Corp.

Gormley Aggregates and United Aggregates in Ontario are sold.

1998
New ESSROC package plant in Frederick, MD opens and locally produced masonry cement launched in regional market.

Slag cement production starts at ESSROC facility in Middlebranch, OH.

1999
Cleveland, OH is site of new ESSROC import terminal.

2000
Brixment-in-Color masonry cement line introduced to ESSROC East Coast customers.

2001
ESSROC San Juan, PR Raw Material Storage facility modernized for greater efficiency.

2002
Capitol Cement and Riverton Corp. join ESSROC with cement plant in Martinsburg, WV; aggregate quarry in Blair WV; color facility in Front Royal, VA.

ESSROC's first interactive customer service site is launched with www.MyEssroc.com

2003
Flamingo-Brixment hybrid line of color masonry cements introduced.

ESSROC launches www.ColorPlan.com Interactive site enables online design planning for viewing/selecting colored masonry cement.