UCANE Contractor Member of the Month
Fall River based contractor with a long history prepares to enter the fourth generation. Family run business expands and diversifies operations while maintaining a mix of horizontal and vertical projects.
(L-R) Forth Generation Biszkos, Stephen, Michael III, and Thomas
History – Beginnings UCANE member Biszko Contracting Corp. had very humble beginnings, not unlike many other UCANE contractors whose founders came to America seeking to provide better lives for themselves and their families. After immigrating to the United States from Eastern Europe in 1912, with limited education and even less money, first generation founder Tydor Biszko came here ready for hard work and a strong desire to learn. A skilled carpenter, Tydor settled in Fall River, Massachusetts and was quick to put his talents to work. He went into business for himself doing carpentry in 1917. It wasn’t long before Tydor’s four sons were working with him in the family business: Mike Sr., Joe, Ray, and Jake. The Biszko Brothers’ emphasis in the early years was in commercial and residential building construction. Tydor’s untimely passing in 1937 was a blow to the business, but his four sons were determined to carry on. Working primarily in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the young company was even winning
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some military work building Quonset huts at the Naval Station in North Kingstown, RI, when business was suddenly interrupted by World War II. Three of the brothers joined the military, beginning with Mike Sr. who enlisted into the U.S. Navy’s Construction Battalion – better known as the Seabees – and deployed in the Pacific Theater. Creating roads, bridges, and landing strips ahead of combat troops, the Seabees became renowned for their resourcefulness and for the art of building infrastructure by whatever means or unorthodox methods might be required. The combination of bulldozers, pontoons, and steel, mixed with with ingenuity and elbow grease became synonymous with the Seabees, so you can see why a Biszko would have enlisted! Ray was a Corporal in the Mobile Repair & Reclamation Squadron with the Army Air Forces throughout Europe, while Jake enlisted in the Engineering Battalion also in the European Theater. The fourth brother, Joe, stayed in Fall River and maintained the family business throughout the war, doing both government and private
“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”
FEBRUARY, 2022
