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  • Old team photo
  • Historic team photo
  • Historic photo
OUR HISTORY

A big part of who we are today is rooted in our past. Our history has shaped our values and traditions, and we owe a great debt to those who came before us. When you consider that Israel Abel was born shortly after the end of the Civil War, it becomes clear that today’s I.B. Abel has the benefit of almost 150 years of collective wisdom. This wisdom comes from an impressive group of people who have been associated with the company throughout its history. Now—as in the past—I.B. Abel is successful because of highly skilled, motivated, innovative, and loyal employees. All of these people have contributed to the “institutional knowledge base” and corporate culture we draw upon every day.

I.B. Abel was founded in a period of change. In the early part of the twentieth century, the electrification of the United States and other countries was gaining momentum with the build-out of generation and distribution facilities. Israel and Norm Abel had the vision to start I.B. Abel and Son to meet the resulting demand for electric appliances and electrical wiring. I.B. Abel continued to adapt and change as the world transitioned from the industrial age to the information age. The company and its employees have weathered social, political, and economic turmoil. As each new generation embraced the new and exciting, the previous generation provided stability. They provided counsel based on their experience and the knowledge that had been passed to them.

I.B. Abel is a family business that has survived four generations; two generations of the Abel family and two generations of the Kinsley family. Each generation’s desire to pass the business on to the next is one of the secrets of why the company has endured. The idea of passing your business along to your children is not a new idea isolated to the owners; many children have followed in their parent’s footsteps and taken up the electrical trade at I.B. Abel. This is a tribute to the health of a company and the confidence the employees have in it.

  • 1871

    Israel Borger Abel is born to David and Catherine Abel.

  • 1896

    Norman Elsworth Abel is born.

  • 1913

    Israel and Norm found I.B. Abel & Son to sell electrical appliances and provide electrical wiring.

  • 1916

    I.B. Abel and Son wire York Fair Grounds for light and power.

  • 1923

    I.B. Abel & Son signs on with IBEW Local #229.

  • 1934

    Israel Abel retires and Norm becomes sole owner of the company.

  • 1935-1940

    Norm abandons the electrical appliance business and focuses solely on electrical construction. 

  • 1941-1945

    I.B. Abel scales up from about 20 men to over 150 to support war industries in York. 

  • 1943

    I.B. Abel & Son becomes I.B. Abel-Son.

  • 1946

    Israel Abel dies and is buried in Mount Rose cemetery.

  • 1950

    Norman Abel dies suddenly and brother in law Kent Bushey becomes president. 

  • 1951

    Norm's Widow Ethel and Kent Bushey form I.B. Abel-Son, Incorporated,

  • 1958

    Kent Bushey buys out Ethel Abel leaving him as the company’s sole owner.

  • 1961

    I.B. Abel wires new dormitory at York College.

  • 1962

    I.B. Abel begins work at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station.

  • 1965

    I.B. Abel begins work at Pennsylvania Power and Light's Brunner's Island Power Plant.

  • 1966

    I.B. Abel-Son, Incorporated renamed I.B. Abel, Incorporated

  • 1973

    I.B. Abel begins working at Harley Davidson York Plant

  • 1980

    Kent Bushey’s longtime vice president, Clair Shearer becomes president.

    Robert Kinsley purchases I.B. Abel.

  • 1986

    I.B. Abel moves to 620 Edgar Street location.

  • 1989

    Tom Loughry becomes president of I.B. Abel.

  • 1995

    I.B. Abel acquires K&R Electronics and enters into the voice data and communication business.

  • 2001

    I.B. Abel begins work at ES3 automated grocery distribution center.

  • 2003

    I.B. Abel completes electrical work for new Toyota Arena at York Fair Grounds

  • 2008

    Patrick Kinsley becomes president of I.B. Abel. 

    I.B. Abel utility services crews respond to Hurricane Ike.

  • 2010

    I.B. Abel becomes PPL "Contractor of Choice" providing services including electrical distribution and transmission.

    I.B. Abel awarded electrical contract for new 5 story dorm at York College.

  • 2012

    I.B. Abel completes electrical construction for Energy Works Biopower and Nutrient Recovery project in Gettysburg, PA.

    I.B. Abel installs solar powered electric car charging station for Phoenix Contact.

    United Fiber and Data awards I.B. Abel project to build fiber optic network from New York to Washington.

    NStar awards I.B. Abel contract to build 20 miles of 345kv transmission line in southeastern Massachusetts.

    I.B. Abel utility services crews respond to Hurricane Sandy.

  • 2013

    I.B. Abel communication crews begin contracts to assist in roll out of 4G cellular network.

    I.B. Abel celebrates 100th Anniversary.

  • 2015

    I.B. Abel opens east office in Plymouth Meeting, PA and a south office in Frederick, MD.

  • 2016

    I.B. Abel relocates Corporate (York) Office to 1110 East Princess Street after water main break floods 620 Edger Street office.

  • 2017

    I.B. Abel moves into newly renovated and expanded Corporate (York) Office and Operational Support Facility at 2745 Black Bridge Road.