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The L.C. Whitford Company, Inc., is a general contractor specializing in bridge construction. This family-run business, based in Wellsville, NY, operates primarily throughout New York State and Pennsylvania, but has worked in 26 different states. Throughout its 100 plus year history, L.C. Whitford has built many landmarks of Western New York, from bridges and highways to libraries and hospitals, and is known as one of the area’s most respected and innovative builders.

In addition to construction, L.C. Whitford operates a materials company, which manufactures pre-stressed concrete beams, precast box culverts, and rebar fabrication. It also operates an equipment company, which deals in the sale and rental of forestry equipment throughout New York State and Pennsylvania. These branches serve to support and streamline our own projects, and also supply materials and equipment to other companies.

The firm’s office is on North Main Street in Wellsville, NY, across the street from the David A. Howe Public Library. This library, built by LCW in 1935, is considered one of the most beautiful and recognizable architectural landmarks in the Southern Tier, a testament to the quality of work that The L.C. Whitford Company strives to achieve in each of its endeavors.

History

In 1916, Langford Clinton Whitford founded The L.C. Whitford Company (LCW) in Allegany County to provide residential and commercial construction services to the communities of Western New York. One hundred plus years and four generations later, this family-operated company remains committed to offering quality construction of buildings, bridges, and highways, while continually expanding and exploring new markets and opportunities.

During L. Clinton’s (Ford) time as president, LCW erected many important buildings throughout Western New York, including the Allegany County Courthouse. He eventually moved away from residential construction, but continued to build commercial and institutional buildings. Ford died in 1937, and he passed the thriving company on to his son, L. Rodman “Rod” Whitford.

Under Rod’s leadership, LCW continued to expand. Over the next few decades, the firm constructed buildings at the Alfred University Campus, and erected several schools throughout the Southern Tier. Upon Rod’s death in 1969, L. Chandler “Chan” Whitford took over the company.

Chan’s tenure as president was a time of great changes for the company. In 1972, the company began to shift its primary focus from buildings to bridges, due in part to the high demand for bridges in the aftermath of 1972’s Hurricane Agnes. Bridge construction and repair remains the specialty of LCW today, though the company continues to work on highways and buildings. Major building projects from the Chandler Era included a 200,000 square-foot manufacturing facility for Bush Industries in Jamestown, a 95,000 square-foot Tracewell Electronics plant in Cuba, and the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, NY.

January 2006, Chan’s eldest son, Langford Bradley “Brad” Whitford was made President of the company. Under Brad’s leadership, the company’s 100-plus years of success continues. LCW’s New York Division performs dozens of heavy/highway projects in New York and Pennsylvania and power plant projects throughout the northeast annually. LCW’s Atlanta Division is expanding its market and performing heavy/highway projects in the southeastern states. Newer endeavors, such as railroad work and waterproofing and containment, have taken LCW to all states east of the Mississippi River. LCW is consistently recognized as one of the largest construction companies in Western New York, with the highest number of employees and the lowest percentage of subcontracted work (about 10%). The firm has been included in Business First’s list of the Top Private Companies in Western New York for many years.