Home About Us Services Markets Served Bid Opportunities Contact Us
Our History

In 1906, Carl J. Seagren, William Kallasch, Stanley White and Harry Leach organized and incorporated the Illinois Hydraulic Stone and Construction Company. Initially the company manufactured concrete blocks compressed by hydraulic pressure. Concrete blocks were phased out beginning in 1913 when road paving became their primary business. As time progressed, the company diversified and accelerated their commercial, industrial and institutional building program.

The founders retired in 1947 and turned over the management to several employees, including Melvin E. Rakow, and the company name changed to Illinois Hydraulic Construction Company. New businesses were added and utility work for Commonwealth Edison, Illinois Bell, and other utility companies became a major part of the company business.

The company became family owned in 1970 when the retiring partner sold his interest to Melvin Rakow. Upon his death in 1972, May Rakow became President and Secretary and Thomas S. Rakow was elected to Executive Vice President and Treasurer. Elected to President in 1980, Thomas Rakow developed the business into a wide variety of services and changed the company name to IHC Group, Inc. in May, 1994 to clarify its diversity.

Mr. Rakow assumed the role of Chairman in January 2002 with David Rock (former Vice President) succeeding him as our new President. To better identify the core business of IHC, the term "Construction" returned to our name as IHC Construction Companies, LLC.

Today, 100 years later, we provide full-service General Contracting, Construction Management, Design/Build, and Underground Utility Construction to the Chicagoland and Northern Illinois markets. We also have an on-site metal fabrication shop.

IHC remains affiliated with various trade organizations:

AGCAssociated General Contractors of America
AIREAssociation of Industrial Real Estate Brokers (associate member)
ARTBAAmerican Road and Transportation Builders Association
CMAA Construction Management Association of America
EACElgin Area Chamber of Commerce
FVAGCFox Valley Associated General Contractors (50th year founding member)
HACIAHispanic American Construction Industry Association (associate member)
IASBOIllinois Association of School Business Officials (associate member)
ILSCC Illinois State Chamber
IRTBAIllinois Road & Transportation Builders Association
NFIB National Federation of Independent Business
UCA Underground Contractors Association
USCCU.S. Chamber of Commerce

The IHC Team consists of dedicated, seasoned and educated professionals. Bachelor of Science Degrees are held in a variety of complementary fields including: Business Administration, Construction Science and Management, Civil Engineering, Industrial Technology and Finance.