Arthur Benson Van Gundy
BUILDING CONTRACTOR
CARPENTER
BIRTH
SUNDAY | 17 MAY 1885
Harrison Township, Ross County, Ohio, USA
DEATH
TUESDAY | 13 MAR 1962
Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio, USA
Joe McFarland
The Far-Land Legacy
The Publishing Legacy Company
February 16, 2024
BIOGRAPHY
LANCASTER – Arthur Benson Van Gundy was born to David Cary and Josephine Sophia (Ross) Van Gundy on Sunday, May 17, 1885, in Harrison Township, Ross County, Ohio. As Arthur grew up he lived with his aunt and uncle, Austin and Mary Van Gundy by the age of 15, and eventually relocated to Lancaster some time thereafter. The 1910s would serve as a fast track to his life as 1910 proved to be a monumental year for Arthur Benson. After a decade of working around Lancaster as a carpenter the urge to “be his own boss” fueled his ambition to start his own enterprise. He established his business and later that year married Florence May Boyce on Saturday, November 19, 1910, in Ross County, Ohio. Over the next five years life went fast for the newlyweds. He and Minnie, as many knew her, had and raised four children: Richard Curtis, John David, Mary Kathryn, and Arthur Boice in Lancaster at 1131 North Columbus Street.
Florence gave birth to Richard on Saturday, November 18, 1911, the day before their one-year anniversary. One year later, John was born on Tuesday, their two-year wedding anniversary. Mary broke this streak up as their third child, born one year into World War I, summer of 1915, and Arthur was born before the end of the war on January 8th. Arthur Benson had registered for the war while living at 615 North Columbus Street in Lancaster after President Wilson announced the country’s entrance.
The first project Arthur took on, starting his lifelong career, was a three-room home in Utica for the late Probate Judge, E. C. Rutter. Over the next five years Arthur mainly built residential homes, however, took on the remodel for the William Wacker Building in 1912. Three years later he built the original Gazette Building on East Chestnut Street, and two years later, in 1917, built the third story of the Lancaster Lens Company, the Lancaster Glass Factory,
and the Rutter Building. Over the next three years he built two buildings for George Allen in 1918 and 1919, and in 1920 he built one for the Goldcamp Garage on North Columbus Street.
As business began to prosper more and more Arthur, along with J. D. Van Gundy and W. G. Beck formed the Van Gundy-Beck Corp. on February 26, 1923. Within the corporation the following projects emerged listed below on the company’s project list.
After six years, Arthur took over the Van Gundy-Beck Corp. and dissolved the company remaining as its sole owner. Another list shows the projects taken afterwards.
Van Gundy-Beck Corp.
EST. 26 FEB 1923
PROJECT LIST
- 1924: Groveport High School
- 1925: Fairfield Savings & Loan
- 1926: Ohio University residence and Ohio University Training School in Athens
- Bolivar High School in Bolivar, Ohio
- 1927: S. S. Kresge Co., Cliftonian Theatre in Circleville, Ohio
- 1928: The former Kiener & Doods Service Station
- 1929: Addition to the State Hospital in Columbus, Ohio
- Addition to the Power House at The Ohio State University
- The Chemistry Building at The Ohio State University
- Addition to the Lancaster Carbon Company
- Addition to the Palace Theater in Lancaster
A. B. Van Gundy Construction Company
EST. 1929
PROJECT LIST
- 1929:
- Grade School Building in Oxford, Ohio
- Miller’s Transfer in Lancaster
- Fairfield Grease & Oil Co.
- 1930:
- Gulf Service Station
- Addition to West School, South Grade School
- Albert Shatz Garage & Storage Building
- Shaeffer’s Tire Tread
- 1931 – 1938:
- Delaware High School
- Lancaster National Bank building
- Miffin Township High School
- Gymnasium in Chauncey High School
- Middleport High School
- New Marshfield School
- Mechanicsburg School
- Eagle-Gazette Building
- 1938:
- Eagle’s Lodge
- The Lyric Theatre
- Ohio Power Sub-Station at Buckeye Lake
- 1939:
- Bininger Building
- Millersport High School
- A & P Super Market
- Stewart Bros – Alban Furniture Storage
- 1940:
- Hotel Lancaster
- Remodeled Big Bear Store
- 1941:
- Kroger Super Market
- Civic Loan Building
Van Gundy and his construction company had gained the contract for the two-story brick structure and began work on the Stuckey Cigar and Candy Company located in the Civic Loan building on Friday, April 7, 1939, for Will Stuckey at 224 South Broad Street in Lancaster. The company occupied the first floor and into the basement, which left the second floor with the ability to rent out apartments. Van Gundy expected to complete the work by August.
As of June 17, 1939, Van Gundy reported that the year was the company’s peak season in building activities as compared over the last three years and fifty-eight employees were on payroll as he expected the total to reach seventy-five in the near future.
During World War II the A. B. Van Gundy Construction Company remained busy building the Lancaster Mould Shop, the Anchor Hocking Mould Shop, Crystal Lee & Coal Co., Danison Monumental Works, White Motor Sales, and remodeled the Chas P. Wiseman Store.
In 1946, the new Masonic Temple was started and in 1947 things really began to ramp up for Van Gundy as he built twelve houses for the Lancaster Home Builders, remodeled the Ohio Bell offices, remodeled the Lancaster Country Club, built the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Works in Chauncey, Ohio, the R. T. Pugh Trucking Garage, White Motor Sales Storage, Beery’s Hatchery, and Beery’s Launderette.
Between 1948 and ’49, Arthur built the Buick Garage, Boy’s Industrial School Bake Shop, Mattox Building (Harpster & Helser), Cunningham Motors, Radio Station WHOK, South Central Rural Electric Storage & Garage, Lancaster school bus storage building, the Walter Hammitt restaurant, the gymnasium in the Stoutsville High School, the Agricultural building in the Lancaster High School, an addition to White Motor Sales, an addition to Fairfield Paint & Oil, along with an addition to the Rushville Bank.
The A. B. Van Gundy Construction Company employs three superintendents: his brother-in-law, J. C. Boyce, Roy Patton, and Tom Zink. All three of his sons worked within the business at one point. His son, Richard, oversaw the brick and masonry work, John was a carpenter, and his youngest son, Arthur, worked with him in the construction trade for a time before he ventured off to pursue his medical career.
By the summer of 1950, Arthur had created the largest construction company in the region encompassing work in Lancaster and throughout central Ohio. He always managed to give back to the community. As a well-established citizen, Arthur and his wife, along with their son, Arthur Boice, and his wife, gave to the Community Chest – Red Cross drive.
The A. B. Van Gundy Construction Co. added the Amanda High School to their project list in 1951.
Aside from his business growing he still made ample time for his family as on Tuesday, November 18, 1952, family, friends, flowers, and festivities enveloped their home atmosphere in celebration of their forty-second wedding anniversary. A large, elaborate wedding cake stood proudly as the dinner table’s center piece.
In 1958, Van Gundy’s company also finished the roof installation to the newly constructed YM-YWCA building on Sixth Avenue.
As operations continued to be headquartered at 614 Lincoln Avenue, he officially reformed the A. B. Van Gundy Construction Company, Inc. on Saturday, October 14, 1961, showing his brother-in-law, James C. Boice; son, Richard C. Van Gundy, and himself. Kermit C. Sitterley, a local attorney in Lancaster, filed the newly formed document with the Secretary of State.
As Van Gundy’s work went well appreciated throughout Lancaster, one announcement published in the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette on Tuesday, April 10, 1962, by Poly Clean at 1141 East Main Street showing their appreciation to all those involved in their grand opening. A. B. Van Gundy Construction Co., Inc. stood at the top of the list.
Arthur Benson died on Tuesday, March 13, 1962, at 76 years old and was laid to rest in the Forest Rose cemetery in Section A1. He lies next to his wife and their stone sits positioned next to their son, Arthur, and his wife, Sarajane.
After his death his construction company continued on. The Calvary Lutheran Church hired them as the general contractor for their new Sunday School addition which broke ground after the General Groundbreaking Ceremony planned for Sunday, May 14, 1972, at 3:30 p.m. The A. B. Van Gundy Construction Company of Lancaster expected to complete the project between four to five months.
MARRIAGE
Florence May Boyce
ROSS COUNTY – Arthur Benson married Minnie Boyce on Saturday, November 19, 1910 and began starting their family.
CHILDREN
Richard Curtis Van Gundy
John David Van Gundy
Mary Kathryn Van Gundy
Dr. Arthur Boice Van Gundy I
LANCASTER – Arthur Benson and his wife, Minnie, raised four children in Lancaster while growing his construction business.
BURIAL
FOREST ROSE CEMETERY – Arthur Benson Van Gundy lies buried next to his wife, sharing the same tombstone, in the Forest Rose Cemetery. The tombstone sits positioned toward the front of the cemetery after making an immediate right, just by the round pull-off. It rests next to their son, Dr. Arthur Van Gundy and his wife, Sally.
Check out others who lived in the same time and place, buried in the same cemetery,
or select the Fairfield County map to go back to the Legend Page.
THE REFERENCES
R
THE REFERENCES
“40 Years Ago,” Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Saturday, August 22, 1998, 5.
“A. B. Van Gundys, The,” Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Thursday, November 12, 1953, 3.
“Arthur Benson Van Gundy,” Find A Grave, Last modified November 4, 2011, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79845923/arthur-benson-van_gundy.
“Calvary Church Plans New Addition, Church Building,” Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Friday, May 5, 1972, 9.
“Construction Projects Of A. B. Van Gundy, General Contractor,” Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Saturday, June 17, 1939, 10.
“Honor Roll,” Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Wednesday, October 14, 1953, 2.
“Mainly About People,” Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Tuesday, February 13, 1951, 2.
“Our Sincere Thanks,” Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Tuesday, April 10, 1962, 2.
“Van Gundy Constructed Many Buildings In City,” Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Saturday, June 3, 1950, 166.
“Van Gundys Celebrate Anniversary Week At Dinner Party In Their Home, The,” Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Thursday, November 20, 1952, 3.
“VanGundy To Erect Stuckey Building,” Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Friday, April 7, 1939, 8.
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