Glenstone Block Co. sold to competitor

After 63 years of local ownership, Glenstone Block Co. has been sold to a Jefferson City-based distributor of masonry and landscape building materials.

Midwest Products Group purchased Glenstone Block for an undisclosed amount in a transaction that closed Oct. 28, said former owner David Harrison, of Springfield. Glenstone Block, 928 S. Glenstone Ave., manufactures concrete wall, patio and architectural blocks as well as pavers and stepping stones. In addition to its Springfield headquarters, the company had locations in Branson and Camdenton, employing a total of about 38 people.

Glenstone Block was founded shortly after World War II by partners Bill Pauly, N. Guy Hall and Harrison's father, John. Harrison said Glenstone Block was the brainchild of Pauly, who owned a construction company with John Harrison that primarily built schools.

"It started right where it is today," David Harrison said. "My dad and Bill Pauly built the original plant building. ... The 900 block on Glenstone was approaching the end of the real traffic pattern (in 1945). You could see quail flying across the road."Pauly eventually sold out, and John Harrison became sole owner of Glenstone Block after Hall died in 1972 - right about the time the elder Harrison was ready to retire. He looked to his son, who was living in Kansas City at the time and working as editorial manager for Hallmark Cards.

At age 36, David Harrison agreed to return to Springfield in 1973 to run Glenstone Block after his father retired, although he admits he's never been mechanically inclined.

"For quite a while, I spent a lot of time in the block plant," he said. "From the day I walked in the door to the day I walked out, I've been extremely fortunate to be surrounded by so many good, talented people."

In the 1980s, Glenstone Block branched out into the hardware business, opening a half-dozen stores that employed more than 100 in Springfield, Branson West, Camdenton and Kaiser, also near Lake of the Ozarks. The company also opened a second block plant in Branson in the mid-80s and was back to serving its core customer base - masonry contractors, architects and home builders - by the end of the decade, Harrison said.

"Through 2006, business was quite robust," he said. "Construction was not at an all-time high but certainly at a good strong pace. ... But toward the end of '06 and starting into '07, we began to see a softening and that has continued, of course."

By August 2007, Harrison had decided to sell Glenstone Block and began contacting companies that might be interested. He settled on Midwest, which had previously acquired Glenstone Block's longtime local competitor, Nattinger Materials Co.

Attempts to reach Midwest President Pat Dubbert for comment were unsuccessful.

Harrison said Midwest laid off some of the employees, although Midwest Vice President and General Manager Mike Ankrom said the business will remain open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Now officially retired, Harrison said he and wife Sandy hope to travel more.[[In-content Ad]]