STARK & SON, a fourth-generation family business, was established in 1950 by Millard Stark. His first piece of equipment was a Jeep with a trencher fitted on the back. Millard’s son Arthur moved the business from DuPage County, Illinois to Burlington Township in Kane County, in 1973.
Arthur set up shop on a farm on Rohrsen Road with a pickup truck, dump truck, backhoe, and end loader. The focus of the business was installation of septic systems and water lines; repairing broken water mains for the Village of Bartlett; and digging graves. The business was well-received in the community and local residents hired STARK & SON for these services, as well as repair of farm field tiles; fixing drainage problems; and rodding sewers.
Even though the business did no advertising, word of mouth and a respectable reputation brought in more work.
As the years passed the business grew: in number of employees, range of equipment, and geographic service area. In 1977 Arthur’s son Michael became a full-time employee.
By the mid-1980s STARK & SON was installing septic systems in Kane, DuPage, Cook, DeKalb, Kendall, Will and Boone counties. This along with the continuing contract with the Village of Bartlett, opened doors to more opportunities. By the 1990s STARK & SON was busy with residential excavation, sewer, water and septic system installations throughout the Fox River Valley and Northern Illinois. In 1998 Michael’s son Anthony became the fourth generation Stark to join the ranks starting as an Operator and later on in 2012 becoming Vice President.
Over the years, the emphasis on commercial work has grown including excavation, site utilities, storm water drainage and detention systems while still accommodating the types of smaller projects the company started its roots on. Stark & Son has always proven itself to be a competent, professional, and a well-respected business throughout our 75 years. Service, experience, dedicated employees and quality workmanship have brought us to where it is today: “Digging America since 1950”.
