Mercer Fraser Looks Back on 150 Years of Work in Humboldt County

Based in Fortuna, California, Mercer Fraser, Co., was established in 1870. Today, the company continues to perform a variety of heavy civil construction work, ranging from highway construction to bridges. In 2020, Mercer Fraser, Co., celebrated 150 years of business.

The anniversary was not only celebrated internally, but also it was recognized by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. In a formal resolution presented by 1st District Humboldt County Supervisor Rex Bohn, the company was praised for its longstanding commitment to both quality work and service to the surrounding community, dating back to the company’s efforts to rebuild San Francisco’s infrastructure following the infamous 1906 earthquake.

A true staple of the region, the company has remained in its same headquarters at Second and Commercial since the 1930s. Today, business activities range from the production of asphalt concrete and other infrastructure materials to marine construction projects along the Pacific coast. Notable projects from the company’s extensive local history include building lines and trestles for the Northwest Pacific Railroad and Humboldt Northern Railroad and construction of the Burns Freeway, connecting Eureka and Arcata.