1948
Main Line Fence Co. was incorporated as a separate division of Robbins & White, a structural steel erection company in Portland.
1950s & '60s
Over the next 20 years, Main Line Fence’s operations grew and modernized, while the original steel construction business began to decline.
1969
Main Line Fence was acquired by Norris Cianchette, who soon moved operations to a new location in Cumberland, where the company has remained ever since.
1970s & '80s
The company focused on two key product lines:
- Highway Guardrail, including long stretches of I-295 and The Maine Turnpike
- Security Fencing for…
- Mills — SD Warren in Westbrook, International Paper in Jay
- Military Bases — Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Brunswick Naval Air Station and Loring Air Force Base
1986
After 17 years as President and General Manager, Norris was succeeded by his son Rocky Cianchette, who learned the business from the post holes up
Early 1990s
A notable project was fencing for the Supermax Prison in Warren.
1990s-2000s
While the company continued to install large guardrail and commercial fencing projects, there was dramatic growth in the residential business, including the manufacture of cedar fencing.
2009-10
Replaced the guardrail on I-295 the company had installed in 1977.
2010s
In 2015, to keep up with increasing demand, the original cedar fencing fabrication shop was replaced. The new one accommodates 12 workers (vs. four) and is heated for year-round use.
Today
Since acquiring Main Line Fence in 1969, the Cianchette family has guided the company through three generations to become Maine’s oldest and largest fencing supplier, handling more than 500 projects per year…with an enviable safety record.
Rocky’s son, Ryan Cianchette, plays a growing role in helping manage the company, where he started in 2003. Ryan’s focus is on increasing efficiency, which often means replacing several older pieces of equipment, such as compressors, forklifts and trucks, with fewer, newer, more reliable ones. His introduction of the latest technology, such as digital estimates, complements the traditional skills of our experienced team.
Rocky’s and Ryan’s goal is to ensure that Main Line Fence continues to meet Maine’s increasing demand for innovative, high-quality fencing for generations to come.
