Over a Century of Family Owned Businesses…
AC Johnston has a long and successful history of owning and operating businesses in Northern Illinois. Our fifth-generation family-owned company was founded in 1892, when the Johnston family began as a coal, lumber supply and road building company, known as AC Johnston & Son. Over the next century, the family owned and operated more than 50 businesses.
Construction & Rail
AC Johnston & Son expanded in the Rockford area through owning and operating quarries and running one of the largest heavy highway construction and paving companies in Illinois, Rockford Blacktop. In 1982, Rockford Blacktop, the construction division, reorganized and a new holding company was formed, William Charles Ltd. with the construction company later operating as William Charles Construction. In 2005, William Charles acquired Ragnar Benson Construction, a 90 year-old general contracting and construction management company in the greater Chicago area. This acquisition expanded the construction group into the rail and large-scale excavation business with projects across the United States. William Charles sold its construction and rail business in 2018 to Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives Inc., which continues to operate under the name William Charles Construction and Ragnar Benson Construction.
Landfill & Waste
In 1972, the family expanded into landfill operations and founded Winnebago Reclamation Services Inc. This division grew to become a large integrated regional waste management business which included two landfills, two waste-to-energy facilities, and several hauling companies in Northern Illinois. The waste management business was sold in 2011 to Waste Connections, Inc.
Real Estate
In 1987, the company founded a real estate division, which focused on land development. This expanded into construction of investment properties, consisting of industrial, office, retail, and residential. This business line grew to own and manage over 500 residential investment properties as well as a number of commercial properties in Illinois. The company sold their residential portfolio in 2021 and 2022. The real estate division continues to own commercial properties as well as land for development.
Following the sale of the construction business, the company changed its name back to its original roots. AC Johnston remains headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. The family office continues to manage assets and make investments. We are proud to call Rockford our home and continue the family legacy with future generations.
Construction & Rail
AC Johnston & Son expanded in the Rockford area through owning and operating quarries and running one of the largest heavy highway construction and paving companies in Illinois, Rockford Blacktop. In 1982, Rockford Blacktop, the construction division, reorganized and a new holding company was formed, William Charles Ltd. with the construction company later operating as William Charles Construction. In 2005, William Charles acquired Ragnar Benson Construction, a 90 year-old general contracting and construction management company in the greater Chicago area. This acquisition expanded the construction group into the rail and large-scale excavation business with projects across the United States. William Charles sold its construction and rail business in 2018 to Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives Inc., which continues to operate under the name William Charles Construction and Ragnar Benson Construction.
Landfill & Waste
In 1972, the family expanded into landfill operations and founded Winnebago Reclamation Services Inc. This division grew to become a large integrated regional waste management business which included two landfills, two waste-to-energy facilities, and several hauling companies in Northern Illinois. The waste management business was sold in 2011 to Waste Connections, Inc.
Real Estate
In 1987, the company founded a real estate division, which focused on land development. This expanded into construction of investment properties, consisting of industrial, office, retail, and residential. This business line grew to own and manage over 500 residential investment properties as well as a number of commercial properties in Illinois. The company sold their residential portfolio in 2021 and 2022. The real estate division continues to own commercial properties as well as land for development.
Following the sale of the construction business, the company changed its name back to its original roots. AC Johnston remains headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. The family office continues to manage assets and make investments. We are proud to call Rockford our home and continue the family legacy with future generations.
