Honesty. Integrity. Quality.
Honesty. Integrity. Quality.
During the height of the Roaring 20’s, Bill’s maternal great-grandfather, George Peterson, sold his family mill in Michigan and moved to Florida for better weather and better investments. George then entered in his new profession, flourishing in the real estate community.
So successful was this change that he persuaded his son-in-law William Nicolson Cawood, his daughter Helen, and their young son, George, to join him. The two men successfully bought and sold real estate and developed neighborhoods, thriving and in the area for almost a decade.
William was one of eight children growing up on his family farm in Marlette, MI. He, like his four sisters and three brothers, were encouraged and succeeded in completing their college educations. William, having graduated from Michigan Agriculture College, was already adept in the real estate business, successfully selling homes in the Lansing area. He used his expertise when he ventured with his father-in-law in Florida real estate. As their success continued, the Cawood family welcomed in 1923 another son, John, into their lives. Unfortunately, the Florida Real estate market took a rapid decline toward the end of the 1920s, William recognized it was time for his family to return to Lansing and invest their energies there.
Although building homes and real estate was a challenge throughout the Depression (even accepting non-traditional forms of payment as farm produce and livestock), his determination kept operations going; he kept the dream of owning a home as reality during the hardest of times. By 1945, he had formed Cawood Realty and his legacy in building and real estate was evident with a street in Lansing bearing the family name.
During this time, William’s sons George and Jack moved through their schooling, working summers on building sites, typically with a framing crew. Both George and Jack would later join the business for a period of time. John (Jack) began studies at Michigan State College in the fall of 1941 but, due to WWII, left to join the Navy Air Corps in November 1942. When the war ended and having trained as a fighter pilot, Jack continued his service as a flight instructor for the Navy. Eventually, Jack would complete his education and graduate from MSC in 1948. Prior to graduating, he sold real estate for Cawood Realty but his interest had shifted to building homes.
Jack, Mary Lou and Lizzie outside newly build home.
In 1948, he formed his own company, John F. Cawood Builder. His construction of beautiful homes is evident throughout East Lansing, including homes in Chesterfield Hills, Glencairn, and Bailey neighborhoods. In addition, John F. Cawood Builder. built nearly half of the homes in the Old Whitehills and Whitehills, East Lansing neighborhoods developed by his lifelong friend, Al White.
Growing up surrounded by beautiful homes built by their father, Jack’s sons, John Jr. and Bill, were eager to join the business. Older son John joined the business in the mid-seventies and the two Johns began development of Riverwood Park, in Okemos. John Jr.’s gregarious personality was a welcomed addition and the business continued to grow. Bill, being six years younger, worked as a general laborer during this time until he graduated from Michigan State University in 1984 with a degree in Building Construction Management. He then joined the business as a partner. In 1986, Cawood Building Co. was formed, so that Jack could gradually move into retirement.
Cawood Building Co. continued building custom homes in Riverwood Park, Whitehill Lakes and Whitehill Woods in East Lansing and Haslett; Cambria Heights townhomes and apartments in East Lansing, and were the exclusive building company for The Greens of East Lansing, a site condominium community. With John’s untimely death in 1998, Bill forged forward alone in business, using the expertise learned from his education, his family and his own building prowess.
Continuing in the tradition in excellence, Bill has built countless premiere and estate homes over the last thirty years. In addition to new construction, Bill incorporated large-scale custom renovations to his business resume. He continues to work with clients in the greater Lansing area as well as outlying communities, including Northern Michigan. He has purposely kept his company scaled to where he can personally devote his time, energy and mastery to each of his projects. His joy of building a family’s dream home has never waned, and he approaches each new project with the dedication, enthusiasm and care he would place on building his own home.