H. Hafner & Sons, Inc.

H. Hafner and Sons, Inc. began in 1923 as a small farming and excavation operation on the east side of Cincinnati.  Harold Hafner, Sr. started his business with one steam shovel and three teams of mules.  Technology soon made mule-drawn wagons obsolete and Hafners replaced mules with Mack ® dump trucks.  Coal delivery became an important part of the business during the 1920's.  The Depression Era slowed the growth of the business and the Hafner family chose to focus on farming in Anderson Township. 

After returning from service in the Navy during WWII, Harold Hafner Jr. decided to once again expand the excavation division of Hafners.  It was around this time that smaller hydraulic dozers began to replace the large and cumbersome cable operated units.  Two International TD-9 bulldozers were purchased and Hafners began digging basements for the housing explosion that occurred after WWII. 

James Hafner returned from Korea in 1951 after service in the Army and helped his brother to expand the sand and gravel aspect of the business.  James was better known as "Bro" and eventually took over field operations.  

In the 1960's Hafners focus switched from excavation to material supply and truck rental.  Equipment that was once used on outside work soon found work of Hafner's clean hard fill and eventual construction and demolition debris site in Anderson Township.  During this time, Linda, Harold Hafner Jr.'s daughter began to manage all back-office operations.  

Hafners took full advantage of the emerging landscape market in the 1970's and 1980's.  Topsoil from their own farm fields was shredded through specialized machines manufactured by the Lindig Corporation and became the staple material available at Hafners.  

Since the mid 1990's Hafners has maintained its place as Cincinnati's premier landscape materials provider while expanding its construction and demolition debris recycling site.  Today Hafners diverts nearly 70% of all material that enters the site from landfill placement.