S. M. Wilson's Story Begins
Our founder, Shouse McGarvey Wilson, established the firm during a transformative era in the American Midwest when factories, railroads and post-war optimism were reshaping communities and economies alike.
A Company Born in the Industrial Tri-Cities
In the early 20th century, Madison County’s “Tri-City” area was rapidly evolving into a manufacturing hub. Granite City, in particular, sat at the heart of this industrial surge. Regional census and press accounts from the 1920s tell a story of migration, opportunity and ambition. Families arrived from all over to find work, businesses sprang up to support them and new neighborhoods took shape almost overnight.
It was in this environment that Shouse launched our firm. His decision was neither accidental nor merely entrepreneurial. Granite City’s expanding steel industry and growing labor force required homes, schools, businesses and infrastructure. Local general contractors became indispensable to community growth and stability, building the literal and civic frameworks of modern Midwestern life.
Rooted in Community, Not Just Commerce
Census records from both 1920 and 1930 place the Wilson family firmly within Granite City during these foundational decades. They were not outsiders chasing opportunity; they were neighbors, employers and contributors to the social fabric of a growing town.
This proximity to community shaped our identity from the start. Our early years were not defined by large commercial contracts but by a moral philosophy: treat customers, employees and suppliers not as transactions but as people.
A Values-Based Legacy That Endured
Shouse’s approach to building emphasized consideration and respect as business fundamentals. These values would remain core to our company long after his era. His grandson, Scott Wilson, later described this philosophy as the reason for our longevity.
Much around us changed across the decades, including technology, markets, building types and delivery methods. That core philosophy remained constant. It became the cultural glue that allowed us to grow without losing our identity.
105 Years of Building and Belonging
Now celebrating 105 years in business, we continue to reflect the legacy established in Granite City. Our longevity is not simply a marker of age but of alignment between purpose, people and the communities we serve.
From a single founder in 1921 to a 100+ year firm delivering complex projects across the region, the throughline has always been the same: build well, treat people well and strengthen the communities we serve.