The History of Ruby Concrete Company
In 1869 the founders of Ruby Concrete Company began doing business in Madisonville, KY. Today, it is the oldest business in the county.
John Ruby learned that the railroad was coming through Madisonville, and he secured a contract to make all of the ties to lay the track. With the money he made from that job, he opened up a General Store which eventually became Ruby Lumber Company.
In 1907 Ruby Lumber Company built a new store and lumber yard on Railroad St. in Madisonville. Three years later in 1910 they added a finish mill on the property. That finish mill was important because it allowed Ruby Lumber Company to produce and sell a 'house package.' This 'house package' consisted of everything needed for a common house of the day. Best of all, a customer could buy it for $100. To this day, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, the majority of structures in the area have been built with Ruby materials.
In the early 1940’s John Ruby’s grandson, Clyde Ruby, came home from WWII and started Ruby Concrete Company. He acquired a used Besser block machine and began making concrete blocks two at a time. The company also ran a ready mix and precast operation.
By the mid 1960s the elder members of the Ruby family wanted to retire. In 1965 Ruby Lumber Company closed and transferred its assets to Ruby Concrete Company. Clyde Ruby remained as President until the early 1970's when he passed the responsibility to Harry Waide.
At that time, the coal mining in the area was booming and so was construction. Both required a lot of concrete blocks. Mr. Waide has continued to grow the company which is now a major supplier in the region.
A business is tested over time. Many do not survive their first five years. Some do well to make it past ten. Ruby Concrete Company's lineage reaches back for more than 138 years. That should make it a great business by anyone's calculation.
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