J. Rich Steers
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Construction, Marine construction |
| Founded | 1904 (as Henry Steers, Inc.) |
| Founder | James Rich Steers Jr. |
| Defunct | 1986 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States, International (Greece, Morocco) |
Key people | James Rich Steers Jr., Henry Steers, Henry Coster Steers |
| Products | Waterfront construction, bridges, piers, tunnels, foundations, sewer systems, drainage works |
Number of employees | 350+ |
| Parent | None |
J. Rich Steers, Inc. was a distinguished contracting company based in New York, specializing in waterfront construction projects. Their expertise encompassed substantial maritime infrastructure such as bridges, piers, tunnels, foundations, sewer systems, and drainage works. Headquartered at 17 Battery Place in lower Manhattan, the firm maintained a significant role in the industry until it closed its doors in 1986.
Family and background
The Steers lineage, originating from England, boasted a maritime heritage exceeding two centuries across both England and the United States, including involvement with the Plymouth Royal Dockyards. The family settled in New York City in 1817, led by naval architect Henry Steers and his sons James Rich Steers (1808–1896) and George Steers, who together established the boatbuilding enterprise George Steers and Co. George gained recognition for designing the yacht America, which triumphed in the inaugural America's Cup.
The business was passed down by James Sr. to his son Henry Steers. Several family members, including founder James Rich Steers Jr. (deceased 1936), his brother Henry Steers (1865–1928), and Henry Coster Steers (died 1947), were alumni of Saint Paul's School, underscoring a tradition of leadership and strategic management within the company.
Origins
Initially incorporated as Henry Steers, Inc. in 1904, the company underwent a name change to J. Rich Steers, Inc. in 1929 under the leadership of James Rich Steers, Jr. At its height, the firm employed more than 350 individuals, drawing on expertise from military, railroad, and utility construction fields. The enterprise expanded its operations to include subsidiaries such as Steers Sand and Gravel—operating a facility in Northport, NY since 1923—and the Steers Towing Company, established in 1934.
Projects
J. Rich Steers often obtained contracts through collaborative ventures and partnerships, concentrating mainly on waterfront developments in New York City. Among their prominent assignments were extensive portions of Manhattan's East River Drive, the Hunts Point Sewage Treatment Plant in the Bronx commissioned by NYC's Department of Public Works, and flood control infrastructure at La Guardia Airport for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In 1939, they contributed to building the Cross Bay Boulevard Bridge linking Queens with the Rockaway Peninsula.
In New Jersey, the company constructed foundations for the now-demolished CRRNJ Newark Bay Bridge and completed key projects for PSE&G, including bulk oil storage tank foundations typical of northern New Jersey’s industrial sector. In 1946, they led a rapid reconstruction effort on a burned wooden railway trestle in Matawan, NJ, deploying over 150 workers to swiftly restore an essential commuter rail connection.
Outside the New York area, J. Rich Steers performed foundational work on major infrastructure projects such as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Texas Tower 4 for U.S. military purposes.
First World War
Operating then under the name Henry Steers, the company rose to prominence during World War I amid a labor dispute when union carpenters objected to ironworkers being used for barracks construction at Pelham Bay. The conflict was resolved when Steers agreed to employ carpenters for this work, averting a strike that could have involved more than 50,000 union members and ensuring uninterrupted progress on Army cantonment projects.
Second World War
Throughout the Second World War, the company obtained major contracts that supported military operations, particularly constructing landing vessels such as LCMs and LCTs in Jersey City, collaborating closely with Walsh Construction. In 1946, by executive mandate, J. Rich Steers and its affiliated subsidiaries were placed under the jurisdiction of the Office of Defense Transportation to prevent labor disturbances that could disrupt activities at New York harbor.
Post-WWII
Following the war, the enterprise broadened its reach internationally, engaging in Cold War-era infrastructure endeavors like harbor restoration in Greece and work on the Corinth Canal for the United States Navy, alongside establishing a Voice of America broadcasting facility in Tangier, Morocco. By 1963, the company had secured contracts totaling $26 million. Within the United States, notable undertakings included constructing docks and bulkheads at the Sewaren Generating Station (1948), developing the Queens anchorage for the Throgs Neck Bridge (1961), and erecting the Commodore Barry Bridge spanning the Delaware River (1974). In 1962, Steers Sand and Gravel, a subsidiary, experienced a severe loss when its tugboat MV Gwendoline Steers was lost during a powerful storm in Long Island Sound.
Equipment
To execute its demanding marine construction projects, Steers operated a substantial inventory of heavy machinery such as cranes, floating derricks, pile drivers, more than fifty deck scows, and a tugboat fleet numbering ten vessels. The company's premier vessel was the J. Rich Steers. Following the company's dissolution, most of this machinery was purchased by Weeks Marine located in Cranford, New Jersey.
Legacy
The J. Rich Steers Award perpetuates the company’s heritage by honoring exceptional academic achievement coupled with promise for careers in engineering. This accolade is presented annually by the New York City Post of the Society of American Military Engineers.