The George J. Grant Company undertook the initial work on the Minnesota State Capitol building in 1896, construcing the basement and foundation.  The company is also listed in Dale and Bumgardner's payroll as having supplied two teams for the grading of the grounds in 1905. Grant was born in Canada in 1841 and he and his wife, Theresa, moved from Nova Scotia to Minnesota in 1881.   They raised a family here as George kept his successful contracting business going.

Grant had construction experience in Canada building portions of the Canadain Pacific Railroad.  The company also built the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand in 1909, the House of Hope Prsbyterian Church in 1911-12 and the Merchants National Bank of St. Paul in 1915. 

George died in 1924, and the firm was taken over by his descendants who eventually sold it.  However, it still exists today.  More information on the history and current activities of the company can be found at their website, http://GeoGrantConstruction.com