1946
Bill Mescher and Art Thier founded “Dyersville Sand and Gravel Company.” Art and Bill first established their operations on the Benn property, north of Dyersville, IA. The first shop was housed within an old one-room school house.
A HISTORY BUILT ONINTEGRITY.
Established in 1946
For over 70 years, BARD Materials has been an area leader in the ready mix concrete industry. Established in 1946 as a small sand and gravel company in Dyersville, Iowa, BARD grew to become one of the first ready mix providers in the region.
While the company has grown and evolved over the course of its history, the people of BARD Materials have always been committed to “Transforming Materials Responsibly to Build Better Lives, Communities, and Country” – a commitment that remains to this day.
SINCE THE BEGINNING
Transforming Materials Responsibly to Build Better Lives, Communities, and Country.
1940's
1950's
1952
The sand and gravel business expanded to include ready mixed concrete. They also purchased their first ready mix truck in 1952.
1953
A quarry was opened and the company began crushing rock, utilizing some of it for its own ready-mix plant. They moved from their old quarry to its current Dyersville, IA location.
1960's
1968
On July 1, the company incorporated as “Dyersville Ready Mix.” That same year, a new ready-mix plant was built at a location near Holy Cross, IA.
1970's
1970
Roger Mescher purchased his father's share of the business.
1971
After the purchase of Besler Ready Mix in 1971, the company adopted the name BARD Concrete, which was an acronym of the names of the two founders and their sons: Bill, Art, Roger, and Dennis.
1976
Dennis Thier purchased his father's share of the business.
1978
BARD acquires Shomont, with plants in Anamosa, IA; Langworthy, IA; Clarence, Iowa; and Wyoming, IA.
1979
BARD purchases Watters Ready Mix in Anamosa, IA and closes its existing Anamosa plant.
1980's
1982
Behrends is purchased with a partnership between BARD and Frank Deutmeyer.
1984
A new ready-mix plant and office are built at the Cascade, IA location.
1986
Manchester, IA; Central City, IA; and Edgewood, IA plants are purchased from Manatts
1990's
1994
A new ready-mix plant and office is built at a new location in Anamosa, IA.
1995
The Guttenberg, IA and Strawberry Point, IA Plants are acquired from Swales Concrete.
1999
Dubuque, IA Ready Mix is acquired.
2000's
2000
BARD acquires Molo Redi Mix of Dubuque, IA.
2000
Roger Mescher retires and sells his interest in the company to Manatts, Inc of Brooklyn, IA.
2000
Chad Thier, son of Dennis, joins the company.
2001
BARD purchases MOLO Sand & Gravel on May 25th.
2002
BARD Materials celebrates 50 years in the concrete business.
2005
BARD purchases Kowalski-Kieler, Inc., and acquires ready-mix locations in Dickeyville, WI; Lancaster, WI; Fennimore, WI; Platteville, WI; and Dodgeville, WI, as well as aggregate locations throughout southwest WI.
2006
BARD purchases the assets of G.A. Watson, Co. on June 13, 2006, and acquires a ready-mix plant in Dodgeville, WI, and various quarry locations throughout the Dodgeville area.
2006
Tony Thier, son of Dennis, joins the company.
2007
BARD purchases Glendenning Ready Mix and Limestone of Darlington, WI. Glendenning operates ready mix plants in Darlington, WI; Shullsburg, WI; and Gratiot, WI in addition to 5 aggregate locations in Lafayette County, WI.
2007-2009
BARD Concrete, Glendenning Ready Mix and Limestone, Kowalski-Kieler, and GA Watson are combined and rebranded as BARD Materials.
2011
BARD acquires Flynn Ready-Mix, based out of Dubuque, IA. With this acquisition, BARD acquired plants in Monroe, WI; Galena, IL; Stockton, IL; and at Epworth and Dubuque.
2013
In August, BARD Materials acquires Jensen Ready Mix, based out of Olin, IA.
2014
BARD purchases Kuhlman Construction which operates out of twenty aggregate locations around the Colesburg, IA, area.
2019
BARD Materials purchased Prairie Ready Mix, Inc., adding ready mix plants in Prairie du Chien, Boscobel, and Richland Center, Wisconsin. In July, BARD acquires part of the Paul Niemann Construction Company. The acquisition adds quarries in Lamont, Dundee, Aurora, and Churchtown along with Gaffney Trucking.
2020
In June, BARD purchases J&N Ready Mix with locations in Lancaster and Platteville.
2021
In December, BARD purchases a minority stake in BCMI Corp, a privately-held software development company providing operational management, customer relationship management, quotation, fulfillment and delivery, quality control, and invoicing for material producers and their customers.
2022
BARD acquires Horsfield Materials
THE BARDWAY
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