Timeline

CCBC receives a milestone contract for the removal of a retaining wall — utilizing dynamite — along the Illinois Central Railroad tracks in Chicago's Grant Park. Without interruption to train traffic, on-time completion of the difficult project earns the company national recognition and its motto: "Wanted: A hard job."

CCBC pioneers the use of dynamite to remove salamanders (iron ore deposits) from blast furnaces.

CCBC receives a contract to dynamite and remove salamanders from Wisconsin Steel's #3 blast furnace. Successful completion of the project launches the company into the precision blasting business.

The company expands and applies its expertise to the breaking of slag and waste materials in hazardous steel-producing facilities.

CCBC is hired to demolish the 628-ft. Sky Ride Towers at the World's Fair in Chicago, utilizing controlled explosives.

The company works in Jamshedpur, India, removing salamanders from Tata Iron and Steel Company's blast furnaces.

CCBC develops several unique machines including the “Overhead Loader," which mechanizes the removal of waste materials from steel-making facilities and the "jet trapper," which blasts out tap hole plugs, speeding the molten steel extracting process.

Offices and shop facilities are established on Avenue O in South Chicago, which enables the company to expand its services to include repair and rebuilding of steel-making facilities.

Chicago Tribune names Edward Gray as "Outstanding Chicagoan."

Chicago Concrete Breaking Company is renamed The Edward Gray Corporation, reflecting its expansion into construction services.

Upon Edward Gray's death, Donald Neville assumes presidency and develops the company into a full-scale industrial construction company. Major projects include a railroad tank-car manufacturing plant, the substructure for a new 14-inch bar mill and major additions to Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant.