PEORIA MAGAZINE July 2023

Carpenter Logan Mitchell

Cabinet work being done at the George J. Rothan Company

sports facilities, hospitals, religious organizations and not-for-profits. Among the large projects the com pany has contributed to in the area are the Cullom-Davis Library at Bradley University, Salem Lutheran Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church and St. Jude Catholic Church in Peoria, CEFCU branch offices in the Peoria area and the State Farm headquarters in Bloomington. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS KEY While employees of two of the general contractors that work with Rothan these days say they appreciate the quality work the company does, they point to customer service as another reason why they have a lengthy business relationship. ‘I’M CONTINUOUSLY

“If there’s a snag in a construction project, and there are usually snags, they’ll find a solution,” he said. “They’ll stop what they’re doing and get the problem corrected without delay. That’s important, because the millwork is one of the final steps in the construction process.” Lewis has a personal connection with JJ Rothan. The two are friends, neighbors, and attend the same church. “JJ is one of the nicest people I know,” Lewis said. “He’s very hard-working and he’ll do anything for you. He’s left samples on my front porch when I’ve needed them.” Rothan deflected praise from himself to his employees. “They have made the business what it is through the years,” he said. “They’ve always cared about the product and been very loyal. We’ve had many long time employees.” AN EXTENSIVE FAMILY TREE George J. Rothan, the founder of the company and son of German immigrants, was born in Cincinnati in 1851 and moved to Peoria in 1873, the year he started the company. In 1888, Robert Anderson joined the business, which became the Rothan Anderson Planning Mill. Anderson sold his share of the company to Rothan in 1892, and Rothan’s family has been the sole owner of the company since then. In the early years, the company built ice boxes and bar fixtures for breweries

as far away as Texas. Rothan ran the business until he died in 1924. His son, Charles Rothan, took over. With Prohibition hurting the sale of bar fixtures, Charles pivoted to making restaurant fixtures and residential millwork. Charles died in 1934. His sons, George H. Rothan and Wilbur Rothan, inherited the business and the company thrived under their leadership, producing architectural millwork for homes and for buildings at Bradley, St. Philomena Church and School, and the former Sears building. In 1958, the company became a corporation. George H. Rothan died in 1960. Wilbur Rothan ran the company until he retired in 1974. At that time, George J. Rothan and Richard Hammond took over. Richard was married to the former Barbara Rothan. Hammond retired in 1998 and George J. Rothan retired in 2012. George’s sons, JJ Rothan and Christopher Rothan, started running the company in 1988 and 2006. JJ Rothan and Christopher Rothan managed the company from 2012 to 2018 as president and vice president, when Christopher left to go into the real estate business.

IMPRESSED WITH HOW QUICKLY THEY COME UP WITH A FIX IF NEEDED’ — David Marshall

“There are always problems, hiccups, in construction projects,” said David Marshall, vice president of Galesburg operations for Peoria-based Hein Construction since 2013. “I’m continuously impressed with how quickly they come up with a fix if needed,” he said. “They know that in our business, time is money.” Chris Lewis is an estimator for Peoria-based Mid-Illinois Companies, where he’s been for 10 years.

Steve Stein is a longtime Peoria area print journalist

JULY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE 23