Company History

Bruce Albea Contracting, Inc. has evolved from over 75 years of construction operations throughout the state of Georgia.

   In 1932, Mr. Sam Albea, Sr. began subcontracting construction work on highway projects in North Georgia.  These activities progressed throughout the 1930's.  In the early years of World War II, he began mining iron ore.

Albea-York Mining Company, Inc. was formed.  In 1946, Sam Albea, Jr. returned from World War II and joined the business.  

The mining of iron ore continued until the late 1950's when foreign mines with superior ores made the North Georgia deposits non-competitive.  The iron ore mines were closed during this period as other opportunities developed.

Mr. Sam Albea, Sr. and Sam Jr. were approached by American Cyanamid Corporation to handle their strip mining operations in North Georgia.  Albea-York Mining Company, Inc. contracted to do American Cyanamid's North Georgia mining operations initially, and later to do all their strip mining in Georgia.

During this same period, Albea-York began contracting site development projects and road work.

In 1965, the company purchased their first asphalt plant and began an asphalt paving division.  Albea Construction, Inc. evolved from this endeavor.

In 1969, Bruce Albea joined the company after graduating from Clemson University.  He became involved in the road construction and paving operations.

In 1970, the company began contracting with the Georgia Department of Transportation.  Various projects were completed throughout the 1970's including construction, reconstruction and resurfacing.  The company received the Georgia Asphalt Pavement Association award for a project on Interstate 75 in Whitfield County.

For various reasons, the company was sold to Bankhead Enterprises and Bartow Paving Company in 1984.  Bruce Albea elected to work with George Shropshire at Bartow Paving.

Bruce Albea worked with Bartow Paving until January 1986.  He held various responsibilities including project management, highway estimating, asphalt plant supervision, etc.