Our History
A.J. Ketchin & Son General Contractors of Tariffville, Connecticut were builders from 1860 until 1923 before moving to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to start Ketchin Concrete Products (1926 ) of which Ketchin-Herpel Floor Tile was established in West Palm Beach, Florida ( 1948) as a pilot company of Fort Lauderdale.
The evolution of Herpel, Inc. involves a direct bloodline for six generations:
- John Ketchin ( 1817 – 1902 ) – Connecticut – Tariffville
- AJ Ketchin ( 1858 – 1924 ) – Connecticut – Simsbury – Tariffville
- William M Ketchin ( 1871 – 1955 ) Connecticut – Fort Lauderdale
- William B Ketchin ( 1900 – 1965 ) Connecticut – Fort Lauderdale
- Henry Ketchin Herpel ( 1922 - ) Fort Lauderdale – West Palm Beach, FL
- Frederick Henry Herpel ( 1950 - ) West Palm Beach
AJ Ketchin Quarry is a historic landmark in Simsbury, Connecticut. The quarry at Simsbury and another quarry at Avon supplied many early projects in western Connecticut. The name Ketchin is associated with many noted buildings in the late 1800’s.
Below are a few examples:
- Walter Phelps Dodge Residence at Bushy Hill, Simsbury – Ambassador to England 1892
- Six bridge abutments for the iron bridges between Far-River between Spoonville and Weatogue
- Ensign-Bickford & Company at Avon
- Simsbury Congressional Church
- Ellsworth Memorial Gateway in Simsbury Cemetary
Herpel, Inc. – Cast Stone & Column Company has had the opportunity to complete many fine projects in the state of Florida. Our projects range from Windsor and John’s Island of Vero Beach, to the island of Palm Beach, to the City of Miami. Our offshore projects range from Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay of Nassau to Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, Aruba and St. Barts.
