Abstract: A method of assembling side entry control stage blades in a rotor of a steam turbine, each blade including a cover, an airfoil, a platform and a root. The cover and the platform of each blade include leading and trailing surfaces which abut mating surfaces of the cover and the platform of an adjacent blade. The blades are installed in the turbine rotor, each blade centerline aligned along a radial line of the rotor. To establish tight contact between adjacent covers and between adjacent platforms, a wedge is inserted between the top of a rotor steeple and a bottom of a blade platform along one side of each blade. A shroud is riveted onto the covers of adjacent control stage blades which maintains the tight contact established by the wedges. The wedges are removed afer shroud attachment. The leading and trailing surfaces in one form may have an arcuate shape to provide better shock transfer in more than one direction.