Founded in 1978, primarily as a trucking concern, W.D. Cohen Contracting Corporation has grown into one of the premier site work, underground utility, and related discipline contractors in the greater Boston area. Fresh with revenues generated by a small, private, snow plowing operation following the blizzard of 1978, Bill Cohen approached D. Forbes Will, then his boss at Will Sand and Gravel Corporation of Canton, MA, about the possibility of becoming an owner/operator hauling his products for hire, rather than remaining an employee/truck driver. Mr. Will was enthusiastic in his support and a brand new GMC General and Fruehauf dump trailer was purchased and put in service, working Monday through Friday for Will Sand and Gravel and weekends hauling stone and bituminous concrete products for Simeone Corporation of Stoughton, MA.
At the conclusion of 1978, in spite of historically high interest rates, and an unstable economy, the company was on solid financial footing and looking for opportunities to expand. Soon, a landscape maintenance and construction division was created and began to flourish in the Canton area.
The success of the landscape construction division resulted in the purchase of a Case 580D loader/backhoe which ultimately led to more and heavier equipment such as excavators, wheel loaders, and bulldozers.
The landscape maintenance division was spun off in the early 1980’s so that the company could more focus on the excavation and underground utility business. That business continues successfully today, operated by Bill’s brother-in-law, Dan Carter, as D.E. Carter Landscaping.
Today’s W.D. Cohen Contracting Corporation continues to evolve. With the dedication and loyalty shown Bill by his sister and office manager, Ellen Carter, his brother and general superintendent, Bob Cohen, and a core group of employees, (some who have been with the company more than 25 years), the company continues to offer unequalled service to a long list of satisfied clients.