Our Story

With over 40 years of experience, my career in construction started when I was 10 years old.  My father was a builder, and he started his career as a brick layer. Because masonry was what my father knew how to do well, brick and block laying is what I learned at the beginning of my career.  Over the summer and on weekends, my older brother and I would carry and stock block and brick for my dad.  That’s also when I learned how to work hard and persevere.

After several years as a mason, my father, Harry L. Smith, started his own Construction Company in 1971 with one employee, and my brother and I helping out when we could.  He began by doing small custom homes and remodeling work.  At that time, we built the entire house from the ground up meaning rather than subcontracting work, we did the excavation work, laid the foundation, framed the house, put on the roof and exterior finishes, and completed interior trim work.   Learning to build the entire house ‘from the ground up’ provided me with a well-rounded knowledge for each phase of new home construction. 

By the early 1990s, Harry L. Smith & Sons grew to over 20 employees.  We went from building a few small homes per year to building up to 15 homes per year.  We built a strong reputation for honesty and attention to detail that set us apart in the Harrisburg area. It was during this time that I developed my passion and skills as a finish carpenter; focusing on custom ‘built in’ furniture and trim work.  I also managed our construction team and built many long lasting customer relationships that I continue to enjoy today.  Harry L. Smith & Sons won multiple Home Arama and Pyramid awards. 

In the early 2000s, my father retired and in 2004, I established Cornerstone Custom Builders, Inc.