Haskell Corp. got its start in the booming turn-of-the-century settlement of New Whatcom on Bellingham Bay, where 22-year-old Edwin Haskell, a craftsman and entrepreneur, first settled after coming west in 1890.

One of Edwin's first ventures was a salmon cannery. Before 1900, he took on two partners and became Munro, Blake & Haskell specializing in residential and commercial plumbing, sheet metal work and retail hardware sales. Soon Edwin's son Frank started work at the shop, continuing to expand the business after his father died.

During the 1940s, Haskell took on work at the Naval Shipyard in Bremerton and across the state at the Hanford Atomic Energy Works. In 1949, under the direction of new president Red Haskell, the company became deeply involved in the development of the territory of Alaska. During the 1950s and 1960s, Haskell built hundreds of projects in many remote regions.

Because of the company's expertise in logistics, Haskell launched a successful pursuit of projects in the South Pacific, including hospitals, water and sewage treatment plants, utility distribution, and more.

With Alaska statehood in 1960, the North Slope oil discovery, and a strong Pacific Northwest expansion, Haskell's efforts in the 1970s and 1980s centered around major industrial contracts. This included new oil refineries, aluminum smelters, pulp and paper mills, and substantial modular construction for the North Slope oil fields. Through this diversified approach, business expanded in both fabrication and commercial building.