Pictured: Post Card Photo of Atlantic Coastline Railroad

In 1923, at the request of developers Thomas Bland and Broadus Griffin, William E. Bolton Sr. left the Atlantic Coastline Railroad of Rocky Mount to oversee construction of the mechanical system for Raleigh’s first high-rise hotel, the Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel.

Pictured: The Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel

William E. Bolton Sr. remained as head maintenance engineer for one year following the completion of the Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel in January 2024. In 1925 William Bolton Sr. established W.E. Bolton Company, focusing on installing and servicing coal-fired heating systems.

Pictured from left to right: Mike Moser, Steve Harrower, and Scott Harrower

Moser Inc., founded by Verne Moser, similar to Bolton, provided Western North Carolina with Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning services.

Pictured: Old Leased Space on West Martin and Harrington Street

The Bolton Company endured the Great Depression and continued to grow steadily through the 1930s. W.E. Bolton Sr. leased an office and shop building on the corner of West Martin and Harrington Streets until the outbreak of World War II. Shortages caused by the war reduced sales and forced Bolton to operate his business out of his home.

Pictured: The USS Yorktown

After six years of service in the armed forces—much of it spent as an aircraft mechanic aboard the USS Yorktown—and upon completing his degree at North Carolina State College, William E. Bolton Jr. joined his father in the family business. In 1946, with just three employees, they opened a new office at 519 West North Street. The W.E. Bolton Company became an integral part of Raleigh’s remarkable post-war expansion, continuing to serve residential customers while steadily growing its presence in the commercial market. It was during this time that William Bolton Jr. began installing and servicing refrigeration equipment for local dairies.

Group photo picturing William E. Bolton, Sr. (wearing bow tie), William E. Bolton Jr. (second right) at the 519 West North Street Office in 1955, receiving the company’s first group insurance certificate from a representative of Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Pictured: Photo of The New Office

By 1956, the newly named Bolton Air Conditioning & Heating Company had outgrown its North Street offices. Construction of a 10,000-square-foot office facility at 919 West Morgan Street was completed in 1957.

Pictured: The North Carolina State Legislative Building

In 1963, the company received its single largest project to date when it was awarded the contract for heating and cooling the new North Carolina State Legislative Building. Work on the project coincided with the initiation of a decade-long move to broaden operations to include all mechanical trades (plumbing, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation, industrial piping, utility, and electrical construction).

Pictured: The Century Station Post Office

A few of Bolton’s projects during this period included Martin County Hospital in Williamston, NC; North Carolina Archives & History Building; North Carolina Department of Administration Building; Century Station Post Office Renovations; and the D. H. Hill Library at NCSU.

This diversification promoted a change in the company name to Bolton Corp. in 1970. Throughout the 1970s, Bolton Corp. grew in size and complexity, undertaking projects such as Rex Hospital, the School of Veterinary Medicine at NCSU, the Radisson Hotel, the Raleigh Civic Center renovation, the One Hanover Square Office, UCB Plaza, and the American Airlines Hub at RDU.

Pictured: Moser Inc. Logo

In early 1993 Bolton Corp. acquired Moser Inc. of Asheville, NC. Moser Inc., founded in 1928 by Verne Moser, also provided a wide range of plumbing, heating, and air conditioning services to commercial and residential customers. During Moser Inc.’s time serving the citizens of Western North Carolina they completed many impressive projects at establishments such as Grove Park Inn, The Biltmore Estate and the Asheville Civic Center just to name a few. Verne Moser’s son, David Moser, and son-in-law, John Harrower, both joined the Moser Company in 1945. By 1972 Mike Moser, Scott Harrower and Steve Harrower, all grandsons of Verne and the third generation, became actively involved with the family business. Many former Moser Inc. employees still work at Bolton’s Asheville Office, including Steve Harrower, VP.

Pictured: Mike Bolton

By the late 90’s Bolton Corp., with William E. Bolton III (Bill) as President and CEO, had nearly 500 employees and offices in Raleigh, Asheville, Morehead, and Wilmington. Following the death of William E. Bolton Jr., the Bolton family business began a transition to split into separate business units among the Bolton brothers: Mike, Doug, and Bill. In 2002, Bill Bolton established W.E. Bolton Construction and Service, LLC in Raleigh. Soon several large projects were awarded to the new company, including projects at North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the Federal Correctional Institute in Butner.

Pictured: Stainless Steel Fabricators, Inc.

In early 2003, the W.E. Bolton Construction And Service added Stainless Steel Fabricators, Inc. and the former Asheville Division of Bolton Corp. to its family.

Family photo, from left to right: Weslyn Bolton, William Bolton V, William (Bill) Bolton III, Mark Bolton, Katy Bolton, William (Will) Bolton IV, Lynn Bolton.

Triangle Business Journal issues the Bolton Construction and Service, LLC Family Business Award for overall excellence, innovation, ethics, philanthropy, and contribution to the strength of the region.

During the 2010’s business ownership and day-to-day operation management shifted to the 4th generation, first to Will Bolton in the Raleigh office, then by early 2020 to Mark Bolton in Western North Carolina. Bolton WNC won the Carolina Business Journal Small Business of the year award later that same year.

100th Year Anniversary

Our 4th generation family business continues to offer quality construction and service abilities to our residential and commercial clients in heating, air conditioning, plumbing, fabrication, and maintenance services.

Pictured: Post Card Photo of Atlantic Coastline Railroad

In 1923, at the request of developers Thomas Bland and Broadus Griffin, William E. Bolton Sr. left the Atlantic Coastline Railroad of Rocky Mount to oversee construction of the mechanical system for Raleigh’s first high-rise hotel, the Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel.

Pictured: The Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel

William E. Bolton Sr. remained as head maintenance engineer for one year following the completion of the Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel in January 2024. In 1925 William Bolton Sr. established W.E. Bolton Company, focusing on installing and servicing coal-fired heating systems.

Pictured from left to right: Mike Moser, Steve Harrower, and Scott Harrower

Moser Inc., founded by Verne Moser, similar to Bolton, provided Western North Carolina with Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning services.

Pictured: Old Leased Space on West Martin and Harrington Street

The Bolton Company endured the Great Depression and continued to grow steadily through the 1930s. W.E. Bolton Sr. leased an office and shop building on the corner of West Martin and Harrington Streets until the outbreak of World War II. Shortages caused by the war reduced sales and forced Bolton to operate his business out of his home.

Pictured: The USS Yorktown

After six years of service in the armed forces—much of it spent as an aircraft mechanic aboard the USS Yorktown—and upon completing his degree at North Carolina State College, William E. Bolton Jr. joined his father in the family business. In 1946, with just three employees, they opened a new office at 519 West North Street. The W.E. Bolton Company became an integral part of Raleigh’s remarkable post-war expansion, continuing to serve residential customers while steadily growing its presence in the commercial market. It was during this time that William Bolton Jr. began installing and servicing refrigeration equipment for local dairies.

Group photo picturing William E. Bolton, Sr. (wearing bow tie), William E. Bolton Jr. (second right) at the 519 West North Street Office in 1955, receiving the company’s first group insurance certificate from a representative of Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Pictured: Photo of The New Office

By 1956, the newly named Bolton Air Conditioning & Heating Company had outgrown its North Street offices. Construction of a 10,000-square-foot office facility at 919 West Morgan Street was completed in 1957.

Pictured: The North Carolina State Legislative Building

In 1963, the company received its single largest project to date when it was awarded the contract for heating and cooling the new North Carolina State Legislative Building. Work on the project coincided with the initiation of a decade-long move to broaden operations to include all mechanical trades (plumbing, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation, industrial piping, utility, and electrical construction).

Pictured: The Century Station Post Office

A few of Bolton’s projects during this period included Martin County Hospital in Williamston, NC; North Carolina Archives & History Building; North Carolina Department of Administration Building; Century Station Post Office Renovations; and the D. H. Hill Library at NCSU.

This diversification promoted a change in the company name to Bolton Corp. in 1970. Throughout the 1970s, Bolton Corp. grew in size and complexity, undertaking projects such as Rex Hospital, the School of Veterinary Medicine at NCSU, the Radisson Hotel, the Raleigh Civic Center renovation, the One Hanover Square Office, UCB Plaza, and the American Airlines Hub at RDU.

Pictured: Moser Inc. Logo

In early 1993 Bolton Corp. acquired Moser Inc. of Asheville, NC. Moser Inc., founded in 1928 by Verne Moser, also provided a wide range of plumbing, heating, and air conditioning services to commercial and residential customers. During Moser Inc.’s time serving the citizens of Western North Carolina they completed many impressive projects at establishments such as Grove Park Inn, The Biltmore Estate and the Asheville Civic Center just to name a few. Verne Moser’s son, David Moser, and son-in-law, John Harrower, both joined the Moser Company in 1945. By 1972 Mike Moser, Scott Harrower and Steve Harrower, all grandsons of Verne and the third generation, became actively involved with the family business. Many former Moser Inc. employees still work at Bolton’s Asheville Office, including Steve Harrower, VP.

Pictured: Mike Bolton

By the late 90’s Bolton Corp., with William E. Bolton III (Bill) as President and CEO, had nearly 500 employees and offices in Raleigh, Asheville, Morehead, and Wilmington. Following the death of William E. Bolton Jr., the Bolton family business began a transition to split into separate business units among the Bolton brothers: Mike, Doug, and Bill. In 2002, Bill Bolton established W.E. Bolton Construction and Service, LLC in Raleigh. Soon several large projects were awarded to the new company, including projects at North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the Federal Correctional Institute in Butner.

Pictured: Stainless Steel Fabricators, Inc.

In early 2003, the W.E. Bolton Construction And Service added Stainless Steel Fabricators, Inc. and the former Asheville Division of Bolton Corp. to its family.

Family photo, from left to right: Weslyn Bolton, William Bolton V, William (Bill) Bolton III, Mark Bolton, Katy Bolton, William (Will) Bolton IV, Lynn Bolton.

Triangle Business Journal issues the Bolton Construction and Service, LLC Family Business Award for overall excellence, innovation, ethics, philanthropy, and contribution to the strength of the region.

During the 2010’s business ownership and day-to-day operation management shifted to the 4th generation, first to Will Bolton in the Raleigh office, then by early 2020 to Mark Bolton in Western North Carolina. Bolton WNC won the Carolina Business Journal Small Business of the year award later that same year.

100th Year Anniversary

Our 4th generation family business continues to offer quality construction and service abilities to our residential and commercial clients in heating, air conditioning, plumbing, fabrication, and maintenance services.