Our History

Mr. Maier attributed the original success of his labors to hard work, a willingness to make sacrifices, honesty and his efforts to treat his fellow man as he wanted to be treated. The modern success story of Ernest Maier, Inc. is continued by the sincerity, hard work and honesty that Mr. Maier instilled in its corporate soul over 80 years ago. It is still a family business that holds true to the core principles of its founding and is dedicated to the betterment of its employees and community.

The Early Days

Days of depression prompted days of prosperity for Ernest Maier, Sr. who started his Bladensburg-based "Ernest Maier & Sons" block business in 1926, at the age of 26. Originally from Germany, Ernest Maier bought a farm in Beltsville, Maryland, which he was soon forced to sell off to the government at their insistence. This forced the young man to look for a new way to support his family. Seeing the need for building blocks for residential basements, Ernest Maier applied his German determination to forming blocks by hand on a Sears block machine, turning out 72 per day. Not long after, he began to pay some young boys from South Carolina eighteen dollars per week to help him.

The Ernest Maier business began operations at 4617 Annapolis Road and moved to its present location at 4700 Annapolis Road in the 1940's. Floods around the Peace Cross area of Bladensburg kept other local businesses from persevering, but Ernest Maier & Sons weathered these troubles and became a prominent fixture in the Bladensburg business community.