The Company
David Henry Blattner began conducting business as D.H. Blattner & Co., Railway Contractors in 1907.
At the turn of the 19th century, David Henry Blattner left his farm in central Minnesota to seek adventure in the booming railroad construction industry. After one season of work, his entrepreneurial spirit spurred him to start a company of his own.
In 1911, David Henry joined one of the most ambitious track projects of the decade: the Surrey Cutoff. The shortcut connected Fargo to Surrey, North Dakota, and it shaved 60 miles off the railway's transcontinental route.
To meet the project's fast-tracked schedule, Henry implemented an innovative idea. He ordered 3,000 feet of wire, 30 arc lights and an electric generator, and he built a small electric plant on site. The bright light was visible for miles across the prairie, and it allowed crews to work safely around-the-clock to finish the job.
Throughout his opportunistic pursuit of railroad work, David Henry Blattner formed lasting business relationships by delivering consistent and quality results. This cornerstone business philosophy would continue through generations of company history.
