Now, 112 years later that business is growing under the leadership of the fourth generation of Moellers.

Now called Moeller Furnace & Air, the company is building a new facility on the east side of Fort Dodge. Representatives of the company, the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance and the city government gathered Wednesday inside what will become the company’s office building to celebrate.

“As we continue to grow, our main goal will be to build trust in the community while striving to better the community,” said Nate Moeller, the company’s president.

Since 1915, the company has been based in a building at 114 S. 12th St.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Members of the Moeller family dig in during Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony. From left are Haley Moeller, Nate Moeller, Fred Moeller, Gary Moeller and Jan Moeller.

“It suited us well,” Moeller said.

But he said the company has essentially outgrown that structure. The only way to grow and expand, he said, is to move into a bigger facility.

That bigger facility is at the corner of First Avenue South and 42nd Street in the Decker Development Park.

The building that will house the company’s offices and training area is under construction. The walls are up and the roof is on, The interior remains to be finished.

Moeller said one room of the building will include a display highlighting the company’s long history.

A 50-by-120-foot warehouse and workshop will be built onto the south side of that building.

Moeller said the company will probably begin moving into its new quarters in January or February.

No final decisions have been made about the company’s South 12th Street property.

“I take a lot of pride in it,” Moeller said. “There’s so much history.”

Because construction is well under way at the company’s new site, a modified groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday. It was conducted inside, where Moeller family members plunged golden-colored shovels into a trough filled with dirt.

Moeller Furnace & Air performs heating, cooling, sheet metal fabrication and air quality work. There are nine people on the staff.

The company has an in-house apprenticeship program.

“Our goal is to bring young people into the trade,” Moeller said.