Company History

Albert J. Welch Sr was born in 1894 in Brighton, Massachusetts. He attended St. Columbkilles High School in Brighton and the University of Pennsylvania from which he received his doctorate in veterinary science. A veteran of World War I, he served as a First Lieutenant with the U. S. Army in the European Theater. He was honorably discharged in 1919. He married Eleanor Murphy in Philadelphia in 1924 and had four children. For the next twenty years he worked as a veterinarian throughout the Boston area. Shortly after World War II, Albert “Doc” Welch started an excavation and site work business with his two sons Albert Jr (known as Albie) and John. Working from a small office over a drug store in Brighton Center, “Doc” Welch along with Albie and John started work on small construction projects. Throughout the 1950′s the business steadily grew. With the help of “Doc’s” close friend, Cardinal Richard Cushing Archbishop of Boston, the Albert J. Welch Corp started to take on larger commercial projects such as churches, hospitals and public buildings. With the success of each project the reputation of the company grew. “Doc” now had many friends and clients in the construction industry that relied on the Albert J. Welch Corp for quality excavation and sitework. Albert “Doc” Welch continued active participation in the company all of his life but as the 1960′s approached Albie and John started to assume the day to day management. Albert “Doc” Welch passed away in 1974 but left behind a family construction tradition that endures to this day.

Albert J. Welch, Jr was born in 1926 in Brighton, Massachusetts. He attended the Our Lady of the Presentation Grammar School in Brighton and Boston College High School. With the outbreak of World War II he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served in the Pacific Theater, seeing action on Iwo Jima and was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1946. He married Irene Urbaczewski in 1946 and together they had six children. Known to most everyone as Albie, upon his discharge from the Marines he went to work in the construction business with his father and brother, John. In the 1950′s Albie and John worked closely with their father to expand the services offered by the Albert J. Welch Corp. In 1960 the company incorporated and unionized. Albie became Vice President and Treasurer of the Albert J. Welch Corp. The work force increased substantially and the company moved to its present location on Electric Avenue in Brighton. Albie oversaw the day to day operations of the office personnel. He worked closely with estimators, accountants, bankers and general contractors. He was instrumental in the banking, bonding, insurance and financial aspects of the firm. His three sons, Jim, David and Albert III currently work in the family business. Albie passed away in 1998, leaving behind a grateful extended circle of family and friends.

John E. Welch, Sr was born in 1928 in Brighton, Massachusetts. John attended the Our Lady of the Presentation Grammar School in Brighton and St. Mary’s High School in Waltham, MA. He married Effie Bohannan in 1950 and together they had seven children. Shortly thereafter he went to work in the construction business with his father and brother Albie. John belonged to Operating Engineers Local 4 for over fifty years. John was an accomplished heavy equipment operator. In the early days of the Albert J. Welch Corp, John Sr would help estimate, supervise and run equipment on many of the projects. In the 1950′s and 60′s John Sr was responsible for all aspects of the outside field operations and equipment acquisitions of the company. When “Doc” Welch stepped back from day to day involvement in the business John Sr became the President of the Albert J. Welch Corp. In the mid 1960′s the company was awarded the site work and excavation contract at what is known today as the Plymouth Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts. At the time this was one of the largest site work projects on the east coast of the United States. John’s experience and leadership was critical to the success of this large project. His two sons John Jr and Thomas currently work in the family business. John Sr passed away in 2008, leaving behind many cherished memories to his business associates, children and grandchildren.