FAMILY HISTORY
"HONESTY, INTEGRITY, AND A DESIRE TO SUCCEED"
In the year 1912, Jacob Einar Jacobsen left Oslo, Norway with his family to legally migrate to the United States of America. They took the common route of entering the country through Ellis Island in New York City, and then they migrated to Chicago, IL. Once settled into his new home, Jacob Einar Jacobsen became a managing partner of the downtown house moving and shoring company Sheeler & Son Co. located at 228 N. LaSalle Street.
With a skilled hand and a keen eye, Jacob moved residential and commercial buildings several blocks away to their new locations. This image is nearly one hundred years old and shows Jacob and his colleagues in one of the buildings they moved.
The company was very successful and provided excellent services to many clients over many years with Mr. Jacobsen evidently taking over 100% ownership of the company which employed many people including his two sons, Henry and Ralph. Mr. Jacobsen went on to become one of the main engineers at Lamasco Engineering Company in Evansville, Indiana.
Henry went on to become the #2 bricklayer in the City of Chicago, while his brother Ralph became chief engineer at Miele Dexter Goss Printing Press Company.
Although the original copy of Mayor Daley's letter of commendation has been lost, it was recreated by a hired artist according to the best recollection of Gary Jacobsen.
Henry was hired by the City of Chicago to complete a full renovation of the famous Chicago Water Tower. (pictured)
Upon his retirement, Henry received another letter from Mayor Daley, as well as a plethora of praise for his many decades of contributions as the premiere Chicago bricklayer.
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All three men brought the honesty, integrity, and desire to succeed which they were taught in the old country, and they passed down these notable traditions to their descendants.
The Building Doctor, Esq. LLC is owned and operated by Gary Jacobsen, the 3rd generation workman of the Jacobsen family, and is being followed by his son, Todd, and his grandsons, Thor and Blaine, marking 5 generations of upholding the Jacobsen tradition.
Gary's son, Todd Jacobsen, is a contractor in Indiana. He also owns his own business, American Spray Foam, L.L.C., and his work proves that the Jacobsen tradition of craftsmanship will live on into the next generation.