Harry S. Holtze was born April 20, 1893 to the parents of Mary Holtze and John Samuel Holtze.  Harry S. was educated from grade school through high school in Sioux City, Iowa.  He then went onto college at the University of Minnesota from 1911 to 1912 where he studied Engineering.  After a year at the University of Minnesota, Harry took leave of school to work with his father who was a carpenter contractor.  In 1913, Harry returned to college, this time at the University of Illinois where he earned a B.S. in Architectural Engineering in 1916. 

After a brief stint at a steel company in Youngstown Ohio, Harry found himself working for Bentley and Sons General Contractors in Toledo Ohio.  Harry worked as a timekeeper and material checker on large construction projects. 

Both Samuel and Harry were scouting jobs when they landed a three house build in Morningside for H.M. Luder.  The contract was for twin brick homes, The Miller Homes and another house on the corner of Center Street and 19th for the Vander Bergs.

Harry took charge of the 3 house build and Samuel would come out to check in from time to time.  Unfortunately, during one of the visits, Samuel was out to help raise rafters and slipped on the scaffolding and fell about 15 feet breaking several ribs.  One of those ribs punctured his liver and Samuel passed away, leaving Harry in charge.

The next project was a small farm house for W.L. Belfrage, about 2.5 mile away from Sergeant Bluff.  A crew of six people worked on the home.  Because their transportation was limited to horse and wagon, the construction crew stayed on site rather than make the 10 mile trek back to Sioux City every day.  It took the crew 1.5 years to complete the two-story brick home.  

H.S. Holtze Construction was incorporated as a building company on December 31, 1930 and operated as a corporation until September 1, 1938 when the corporation was dissolved and the H.S. Holtze Construction Company was formed and the chronology of development continued as noted in the right margin.

As the Midwest has evolved and changed, the Holtze Companies have grown and evolved right along with it.  Many things have stayed true to how The Holtze Companies operate to this day from when Harry began the company.  The Holtze Companies hold all of our clients, subcontractors and suppliers in the highest regard and are very proud to be a member of the Midwest building community.

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