When George A. McDowall started his roofing company in 1895 in Joliet, Ill., times were far different than they are now. To put that into perspective, that year, baseball legend Babe Ruth was born; Olympia Theatre — the first theatre to be built in New York City’s Times Square district — opened its doors; and the first ever American automobile race took place in Chicago’s Jackson Park.
Fast forward 53 years to 1948: Harry Truman is elected to office; Babe Ruth passes away, and the current edition of McDowall Company takes root in St. Cloud, Minn.