When it was established over a century ago, no one could have known that William F. Saunders’ livery stable on West Onondaga Street in the city of Syracuse would grow to become one of the best-known commercial and residential ready-mix concrete family of Company in Central New York. Livery sales were somewhat similar to the cab Company of today, but used horses and carts to do the transporting. Unlike the taxis of today, however, livery sales transported both people and products. It was the transportation of these products that propelled William F. Saunders into his company’s first stage of prosperity.

At the turn of the century, William F. moved into the sand and gravel business with his three sons, Wallace W., Cass E. and Sherman V. Sr. It would not be long before W.F.Saunders & Sons would become what they are today. In 1921, the company expanded into the mining and hauling business in addition to the sale and transport of sand and gravel and moved to its current headquarters on route 80 in Nedrow, New York. By the 1940’s, due to the boom of the new home and business construction after World War II, they had developed into the ready-mix concrete business. By this time, Sherman V. Sr., had taken over the majority of the responsibilities associated with running a family owned business. He was aided by his son, Sherman V. Saunders Jr., who is at the helm today following his father’s footsteps, and his grandfather’s before that.

Today, more than one hundred and ten years after it began, W. F. Saunders & Sons, Inc. has grown into a leader in the concrete business with seven satellite plants, almost one hundred mixer and dump truck, over one hundred and seventy-five employees and a new generation of the Saunders’ family to carry on the family tradition. The plants, which are located in Nedrow, Cortland, Marcellus, South Onondaga, Ithaca, Binghamton and Canastota, make up a company whose operations run from the raw materials to the finished products. The inability to transport concrete greater than forty-five miles has caused the company to maintain satellite operations in Cortland, Ithaca, Marcellus, Canastota, Nedrow and Binghamton in order to serve their customers.

In addition to its ready-mix operations, the Marcellus location is home to the Company’s sand and limestone quarry and a crushing and screening facility.The Crushing and Screening process allow the company to produce both coarse and fine aggregates at specifications required in the concrete used by the New York State Department of Transportation.The Company also has sand and gravel operations in the south Onondaga plant and the lisle gravel pit.The growth, however, does not stop here. A quality control laboratory, research and development projects with Cornell University, a temporary, portable, ready-mix plant and computerized operations are leading the company into the 21st Century at an unstoppable pace. W. F. Saunders & Sons, Inc. may have changed dramatically to survive throughout the past years, but one aspect that will never change is the company’s commitment to quality, and the Saunders family’s dedication to their employees and to their customers.