Four Generations of Building Communities

Cartrette Companies is built on a legacy that began in Chadbourn, North Carolina, where the Cartrette family established a reputation for craftsmanship, integrity, and hard work. What began as a family trade has grown into four generations of construction, development, and long-term stewardship—focused on building communities that endure.

The foundation was laid by Arthur Lee Cartrette, whose work ethic and commitment to doing things the right way shaped the values passed down through the generations. His son, James Allen Cartrette Sr., carried that legacy forward and in 1961 founded J.A. Cartrette Construction.

In the early years, James Allen traveled the East Coast constructing service stations primarily for Gulf Oil, building a reputation for disciplined execution and trusted relationships. Over the next four decades, his work expanded into commercial construction and long-term ownership. He successfully constructed—and in many cases owned—shopping centers across North and South Carolina, with projects throughout New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, Bladen, and Robeson Counties in North Carolina, and Dillon, Horry, and Marion Counties in South Carolina. His developments contributed to the commercial growth of communities across the region and reflected a commitment not only to building structures, but to building opportunity.

The building tradition extended throughout the family. James Allen Cartrette Jr. worked alongside his father, helping manage J.A. Cartrette Construction and continuing its standards of excellence. Jonathan Cartrette began building on his own in Pitt County under the guidance of his brother Myles, later expanding his work into Horry County, South Carolina. Together, the Cartrette family strengthened its footprint across both residential and commercial construction throughout Eastern North Carolina and beyond.

The third generation’s expansion of development began with Myles Cartrette, also from Chadbourn, who moved to Greenville in the mid-1970s to attend East Carolina University. Myles first gained traction through an early development arrangement with Mr. Leroy Cherry in Cherry Oaks, a foundational opportunity that helped launch his career in residential building and land development.

In the 1980s, Myles launched Cartrette Construction Company, which for over thirty years developed and built numerous single-family and multifamily communities, including Teakwood, Arlington Place, Trellis Apartments, Preston Trails, Sheffield, Whitebridge Apartments, Treetop Villas, White Oak Creek Townehomes, and Irish Creek, among others. These developments helped shape neighborhoods throughout Pitt County and surrounding areas.

Today, the fourth generation continues the legacy. Anthony Cartrette leads Cartrette Companies with a focus on stewardship, disciplined growth, and long-term investment. Alongside him, James Allen Cartrette III, who remains in Chadbourn, is actively involved at the leadership level across all endeavors of Cartrette Companies. Together, they represent the continuation of a family commitment that spans generations.

While the scope of the work has evolved—from service stations along the coast, to shopping centers, to residential communities—the mission remains unchanged: to build with integrity, invest with purpose, and create lasting value for generations to come.

Cartrette Companies exists to honor the past, serve the present, and build for the future—one community at a time.