After 46 years of building and renovating across the South Shore, Gary Stilphen is passing decades of experience—and a commitment to doing things the right way—to the next generation of Stilphen Construction with his son Jake. 

For Jake Stilphen, construction was never exactly a carefully mapped-out career plan. It was simply the family business.

“My father started the business over 40 years ago, and I just kinda fell into it after high school,” Jake says. “I ended up being pretty good at it.”

That business has roots stretching back to the 1970s, when Jake’s father, Gary Stilphen, graduated from Northeastern University and joined a framing crew. He later went to work for Scituate general contractor Peter McCulloch, an experience Gary credits with teaching him all aspects of the building trade.

In 1980, Gary struck out on his own, initially building additions, decks and porches and completing full renovations of older South Shore homes. Over the years, Stilphen Construction expanded into commercial construction, restaurants and eventually new homes. Among the company’s past projects are Hingham Bay Club, Joshua James, Di Nero’s Restaurant in Cohasset, and Isaac’s on the Waterfront.

Today, 46 years after its founding, Stilphen Construction continues to build new homes, additions, porches and decks, as well as undertake complete renovations. The company has also begun building accessory dwelling units, or ADUs—smaller homes on an owner’s property that can provide housing for aging parents or other family members.

Jake, 33, grew up in Hull, attended Hull schools and went on to Thomas College in Maine. He now lives in Weymouth with his wife, Ashley, and their two young children, Cooper, 3, and Summer, 1. 

He has spent about 15 years working in construction and increasingly handles the company’s day-to-day projects. 

“With over 40 years experience and 15 for me, people feel confident in our work,” Jake says.

For Gary and wife Paula, having the next generation involved is a particular source of pride.

“I am very proud to say that Stilphen Construction is a family business with my talented son running day-to-day projects with my grandson and other longtime employees,” he says.

That family structure is also part of what Gary believes sets the company apart. “Being a family business, everyone learns the correct way of doing things as we share our knowledge among us.”

As Jake gradually takes the reins, Gary sees the company remaining true to the principles on which he built it: quality workmanship, honesty and knowledge passed from one generation to the next.

One of Stilphen Construction’s latest projects is also one of its most dramatic transformations. 

At 40 Beechwood Street in Cohasset, the company took on a building with a history stretching back more than a century: the former Beechwood train station, originally built in 1890. 

Stilphen Construction transformed the modest two-bedroom home, doubling the living space and creating a modern home with amenities such as central air, a primary suite, and an outdoor patio, which was listed and quickly sold this fall.

For a company that has spent decades renovating and improving homes, building from the ground up offers an opportunity to bring all that accumulated knowledge to one project—from the structure and layout to the craftsmanship and finishing details.

The company’s longevity has also created something invaluable in the construction business: repeat customers. Gary says one of the perennial challenges has been keeping crews busy throughout all 12 months of the year, but decades of experience have resulted in customers returning to Stilphen Construction when their next project comes along.

As for what homeowners should consider before hiring any contractor, both father and son emphasize doing some homework.  “Make sure anyone you hire has the correct licenses, insurance, references and a good reputation,” Jake says. Gary adds another practical piece of advice: be cautious about the size of the deposit requested before work begins.

After nearly half a century, Stilphen Construction continues to evolve, with Gary saying staying current with new technology will be important to its future. But the foundation remains decidedly old-school: family, experience, reputation and pride in the finished product.

It’s summed up in the company’s longtime promise: “Your Dream Home – Custom Built.”