William LaJoie and his wife Louise had four children. They rented a home and leased property located on Colwood Rd. in Caro, Michigan. This property was owned by Henry Beecher and his wife Aura and John Harthy and his wife Minerva.
William was employed as the Tuscola County Road Commissioner and in April of 1918 William started his own business putting tile in farmers' fields to better their crops on February 17, 1921 William and Louise purchased their forty-acre homestead land from the Beecher and Harthy families
In 1922 , William and his son, Raymond, purchased a threshing machine to help thresh crops for the neighboring agricultural industry to keep up with the high demand, the business now consisted of one employee, three thresh machines, and a Rumley Oil Pull Tractor, 20-40.
in 1937, the company bought their first dragline. To suit their needs, this machine needed many repairs and fabrications. In 1939, Raymond purchased a 1930 Bay City Dragline. This was a rare machine for the area and brought additional work for their business from as far away as Bay County and Lapeer County. The labor included channel work, digging ditches and work on the bay in Bay County.
Raymond and Ellen, who also resided in Caro, had thirteen children Raymond was now working for himself and would soon include his children in the family business. William continued his commissioner position and farming land until his death in 1945 in 1946 the company purchased their first Caterpillar, which was a 1941 D4 Bulldozer.
in 1953 a county certification was granted and LaJoie Road became part of the county road system.
In 1954 the LaJoie family business owned and operated their own saw mill and in 1955 Raymond LaJoie named his business LaJoie and Son's Inc., clearing land was added to the many list of services until 1957 when ponds, road work and ditch lines became a higher demand.
in 1962, Raymond's brother Bill was employed as a mechanic and welder.
in 1980, Raymond, Ellen and their two sons, George and Charlie LaJoie, formed The Six L's Incorporated, and later that year were hired by the Michigan Sugar Company as an independent contractor.
The "L" in The Six L's Inc, represent the name LaJoie, which included the following family members: Raymond, Ellen, Walter, Eddie, George and Charlie.
In 1985, the company began applying lime to agricultural fields, which led to hauling and spreading gypsum and dolomite.
From 1990 to 2013 out of the six family members, George and Charlie LaJoie continued the family business and it grew to having up to 28 employees at times on payroll.
Today, The Six L's Inc. is still owned and operated by family members George LaJoie, Debra Flikkie, and Mark Flikkie, with no plans to change the name of the corporation in honor of the many dedicated family members who has brought the company up and into 2018.
As they celebrate their past and future, The Six L's Inc. wishes to thank the Michigan Sugar Company, their community, family, friends and vendors for the many wonderful years of serving you and hope to provide more services for many more years to come.
