Joseph Keefe installs his first fence and lays the foundation for what would become a multi-generation legacy. He names the business Cedrus Company, after the Cedrus genus of cedar trees—chosen for their strength, longevity, and resistance to time. That first job was a hand-built wooden picket fence, painted white and set with care. It wasn’t just a fence; it was a statement of pride, craftsmanship, and the kind of work meant to outlast the man who built it.

The fence industry changes forever with the invention of the aluminum fence. While not created by the Keefe family, the breakthrough comes from Jarith Fence out of Philadelphia—introducing a material that promised strength, longevity, and a future beyond wood. It marked a turning point for the trade itself, setting the stage for innovation that would redefine how fences were built, sold, and trusted for generations to come.

A devastating fire destroys the Cedrus Company, forcing the Keefe family to rebuild for the first time. Decades of tools, materials, and progress were lost in a single night. With no shortcuts and no guarantees, the family rebuilt from the ground up. It was a defining moment—one that proved the company’s strength wasn’t in its buildings or equipment, but in the people willing to start over and keep going.

The first vinyl fence is invented and installed, introducing an entirely new category to the fence industry. Made from UV-stabilized PVC and designed as a “Ranch-Rail” style fence, it offered something the market had never seen before—low maintenance, long-term durability, and resistance to rot, rust, and weather. It marked a major shift away from traditional materials and signaled the beginning of modern fencing as we know it.

Joseph Keefe passes away, and with him goes the man who built the Cedrus Company from nothing but hard work and calloused hands. The loss is deeply felt—not just by his family, but by the business and the people who depended on it. He leaves the company to his children. Forced to lead sooner than expected, they step forward in grief, not comfort, and push the trade ahead—pioneering new materials, new methods, and a new vision. In doing so, they help shape the modern fence company and permanently change the industry, carrying their father’s name and his standard as they build something greater than he ever imagined.

On August 28, 1990, an unprecedented F5 tornado tore directly through Keefe’s Fence Company, leveling the facility and wiping out every piece of material in the yard. To this day, it remains the only F5 tornado ever recorded in the United States during the month of August. In a single afternoon, decades of hard work were reduced to rubble—but not the resolve behind the name. Faced with total destruction, the Keefe family did what they had always done: they rebuilt, stronger than before.

In 1996, just six years after rebuilding from total destruction, catastrophic flooding swept through the area, nearly washing Keefe’s Fence Company away. Rising waters engulfed the property, threatening everything the family had worked so hard to restore. Once again, nature tested the foundation of the business—but once again, the Keefe family endured. They cleaned up, rebuilt, and pressed forward, proving that resilience wasn’t just part of their history—it was who they were.

The Keefe family expands into vinyl fence fabrication, taking full control of how their product is built—not just how it’s installed. By manufacturing in-house, they raise the standard for quality, consistency, and durability. That move proves decisive. The company quickly becomes one of the largest vinyl fence producers in the Midwest, cementing its role not just as a contractor, but as a true manufacturer shaping the future of the industry.

The Keefe family expands again—this time into aluminum fence manufacturing. By bringing aluminum fabrication in-house, they double down on control, precision, and long-term performance. The move quickly establishes them as one of the largest aluminum fence fabricators in the Midwest, reinforcing a reputation built not just on installation, but on manufacturing excellence.

Mae Fence Company relocates its headquarters to Fulton, Ohio, establishing a permanent home built for the future. Situated on seven acres, the new location includes six dedicated warehouses—designed to support a fully modern fence operation, from fabrication to distribution. It marks a turning point: a facility sized not for survival, but for scale, efficiency, and the next generation of growth.

Mae Fence is led by Timothy Surprise, Joseph Keefe’s grandchild, carrying the responsibility of a legacy built nearly a century ago. The work continues with clear purpose: to honor what came before while building something stronger, smarter, and more innovative for the future. Mae Fence exists not just to preserve Joseph Keefe’s legacy, but to move it forward—so the next generation inherits more than a company. They inherit a standard.