Just wondering if any of you had any fond memories of that old time lumber yard?
I had a recent one last month that got me to thinking about all the other memories. I had a callback on a handyman door install in the next little town over from here. The guy that trimmed it didnt do a very good job at all (no longer with me BTW). The casing had a crack in it big enough to make me real mad.
The trim was ruined and it was a kind that is not available around here any more. So I went to the lumber yard in Garrison Texas to see if they had any at all. It turns out they did have just enough for me way in the back. We had to dig for it (no extra charge) and they loaded it.
I told the guy who loaded it that I would have to go back to Nac. to get my chop saw. HO didnt tell me the exact problem over the phone so I didnt bring it. That and I was out looking at other work and didnt have all my tools.
The guy says “Aint no need to go out of your way, gas is too high these days. Here take mine out of my truck and bring it back when you git done”.
I was shocked. I can probably count on one hand the yard guys that even know what a chopsaw is, let alone own one.
Ahhh…the good old days
When everthing is going your way, you’re in the wrong lane
Replies
What did he say when you brought it back?
Brought it back????There's a reason people don't loan out tools anymore. :-)George Patterson
Not much really.
He asked how everything went and then we started talking about the weather.
He wouldnt take nothing when I offered to pay him for a rental though.When everthing is going your way, you're in the wrong lane
Guess he's a good judge of character.
Well, that and he had my address on the check if he needed it.
This town is almost like the old towns of the simpler days. The only thing missing is the hitching post.When everthing is going your way, you're in the wrong lane
Buy him lunch. You know he's going to get hungry at some point and he won't deny it. Doesn't need to be anything fancy or expensive, but I'm sure he'll appreciate it.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
I actually thought about giving him a ten inches blade, but they dont give the good ones away. He sure could've used one.
He probably gets a discount anyway. When everthing is going your way, you're in the wrong lane
"The only thing missing is the hitching post."LOLya know - when I moved to that town in '76 they still had mud streets and hitching post/rails in front of the salooon and a couple other stores. That was the year they paved the streets and took most of the hitching rails out.
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They actually took our hitching post out about ten years ago here in Nac. They've kept the brick streets though.When everthing is going your way, you're in the wrong lane
ya know - when I moved to that town in '76 they still had mud streets and hitching post/rails in front of the salooon and a couple other stores.
So did they get 'em paved in the 1880's?
(couldn't resist)jt8
"I was gratified to be able to answer promptly.
I said 'I don't know.'"
-- Mark Twain
I still have a couple in the area. I lost one a few years ago-the one I started out with. That was sad. Still run into the father on occasion and we do remember together.
If it should come to pass that the boxes are the only places to get lumber around here I surely will hang it up.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
We used to have a family run yard here too. In fact my father built the houses for the GF and the GS of the main owner. It was also tough to let them go. It was the only place that we could get decent lumber and their millwork and trim was out of this world.
They closed about 8 years after Wally World moved to town and quality became bottom shelf for a lot of contractors.
All we have left is McCoys which is a chain but it is run by very experianced hands here at least. That and Lowes.
I had to buy some 1x4 bead board on short notice from Lowes for an impatient regulr client one time and could wait for the order ("I'm having a party this weekend").
Every one had the UPC sticker on the FRONT side of the stain grade lumber. 90 boards worth and I think they used Gorilla glue.When everthing is going your way, you're in the wrong lane
Common sense rears it's ugly head again.
upc symbols, you'd think it was a can of beans.
Man, I was in a pretty good mood tonight till I started reading this board.
Well, actually after the tigers scored one more than the tribe.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Yeah, if I wasnt already working on his basement at the time I wouldnt have had to go that route.
It did cost him a pretty little change order though for throwing out my schedule. When everthing is going your way, you're in the wrong lane
One of the old family run yards here - if they have a truck coming to the island for deliveries, they don't mind stopping at the feed store to pick you up a bag of dog food....
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
still a couple of real yards around here - but the one I've mainly used is just marking time right now - fancy new community center out the front door, new YMCA soon to break ground out the back - it'll be a parking lot too soon -
it's located on 'canal' street - which was the Wabash-Erie canal route thru the area - that's when the yard got its start - still a building in the yard that dates from that era -
another yard (a bit newer - it's on the RR of Wabash Cannonball fame) main building is a limestone structure - they are hanging in there - we'll see - I'll switch allegiences there if/when Yarnelles go out -
other yard is 'Builders Mart' which is a small chain and where the real action is (which is not much in our little backwater) - manager is a good guy and they do things fine -
and if I'm feeling rich, I go here - 40768.1
That Schlemmer Brothers looks just like the one in Garrison.
McCoys is actuallt cheaper than Lowes on most things. I hear people say they (Lowes)cwill beat the price by 10% but to me it just isnt worth it.
A lot of people do that too. What happens when they shut down the little guy though.
When everthing is going your way, you're in the wrong lane
Still one good local yard in my mostly rural area. They've updated to keep up with the times, adding a fancy showroom & all that stuff. But they'll still deliver me five pounds of nails if I ask nice.
When I was a kid helping dad, there were probably eight lumber yards within twenty miles of here. Now we're down to this one, plus a home depot.
I always enjoyed going to the old yards with dad when I was a kid. We'd usually be there by six-thirty a.m. Always had the coffee pot on the counter. The bins of bulk nails with the scale. Carried everything from CMU's to paint to windows. Always had the old delivery truck sitting there, ready to go. Usually had a retired bib-overall wearing old carpenter sitting there drinking his coffee.
Mike
Usually had a retired bib-overall wearing old carpenter sitting there drinking his coffee.
Boss Hogg lived in Minnisota?
Just kidding Boss!My brain + his brawn = a perfect team
nearest big box is at least 45 minutes from here, so I'm not tempted to lurk around, even with the occasional tale posted here of the 'give away' tool clearance -
went to Lowes last friday when I took my middle daughter to college - bought a rug (a big and two smalls, actually) - looked around a bit - frankly didn't see anything I wanted (tho the clearance rugs filled a need) - no anvil department at all, as far as I could tell 20001.7173 - seems that 'special' = gaudy (apologies to mr gaudi) -
"there's enough for everyone"
If you want, call that yard and talk to the manager and find out who sharpens sawblades for him. They might be able to do the guys blades or get a good discount for him for exceptional customer service. Managers at these yards love to hear these stories. Good for telling them. have fun...dan
I thought you made your own lumber? Now you're talking about getting store bought, what's the world coming to?
jt8
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner, liberty is a well armed lamb protesting the vote." -- Benjamin Franklin
I thought you made your own lumber? Now you're talking about getting store bought, what's the world coming to?
I thought I've made it clear in the Tavern that the world is going to hell -
that said, I use Yarnelles for PT, plywood, foam insulation, nails, screws, hardware, paint, stain, glue, caulk, sawblades, tools, tarpaper, shingles, 50c pop, conversations with Bobbi (not the Builder), etc - it's been quite a while since I bought a stud there...tho back in the day...
hey - I'm a semi-pro by the most generous of characterizations - no yard is going to get rich off of me - Joe and Ken let a 23 yo dirty hippie set up an account, I've repayed their risk by spending my money there -
"there's enough for everyone"
- Joe and Ken let a 23 yo dirty hippie set up an account, I've repayed their risk by spending my money there -
That story's been repeated at least once I know of.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Hey, that's how I got my account with that old place in Colorado - I asked, "What does it take to set up a contractor's account here?"Owner asked me, "Do you pay your bills?" while peeking into my soul with a sharp eye...I said of courseOK, You got an account.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
And we continue to be a grade A account. Clever those old time credit checkers.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Yep
Same guy clued me into a new outfit in town that was getting "A wee bit behind" on paying his bills here and there.Sure enough, the subcontractors who got stuck by that guy are the same ones who normally didn't service their own counts promptly, so didn't deserve the word to the wise.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Saaaay, what are you doing with time to get on BT? Isn't this peach harvest time? You didn't get hit with that late freeze like we did, did you? Wiped out a lot of local specialty crops like peaches, some apples, blueberries, etc.
jt8
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner, liberty is a well armed lamb protesting the vote." -- Benjamin Franklin
Saaaay, what are you doing with time to get on BT? Isn't this peach harvest time? You didn't get hit with that late freeze like we did, did you?
ya - fruit crops are much diminished - peaches especially - we've been doing markets with the what selection of apples and peaches that we have - the on farm business...well there hasn't been much for them - I haven't hung out the shingle yet -
dunno - I've been doing some stuff that needs to be done, to compensate, but not paying jobs -
hasn't been a challenge to keep up with the crop till about now - and I will have less time for this in the next several weeks -
I do enjoy this forum - -
"there's enough for everyone"
just curious David, where are you located?
good to see you post again -
I'm in north-central Indiana -
how's the vaults and groins?
"there's enough for everyone"
I have fond memories of several old school lumber yards that used to be here . They both had old stock up stairs that they didn't know was there ,sorta .
It seamed you could walk through the yard looking for what you needed when all of a sudden a fellow would seemingly appear from a stack of lumber usually missing a digit or two from his hands asking if you need help .
Once you saw those missing fingers you figured this guy knows what he is talking about , look he is experienced .
dusty ,, who misses those days as well
We've still got (fairly) old time yards around....they're all part of buying chains now, but you still get the personal service. We got our first HD a couple of years ago, and there is another big boxish operation...we were all predicting that we would lose one of our yards, but they're all still going. The place I like, I was talking to one of the managers after checking on a student I had placed in there.....told me they noticed a dip right after HD came to town, but after that their sales just kept climbing. They had their best year ever, and were on track to beat it again this year.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
My tile and stone guy told me that he'd read that the BEST location for a good tile store was across the street from a HD. Seems people would get frustrated with service, or selection, or not enough of this and that, and go across the street to the closest other tile store, leaving HD in their dust. HD would create the dem,and, bring the customer to the location, then send them away disappointed after doing all the advertising for them
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
A good yard is a pleasure to do business with.
There's one 45 minutes from me, but luckily they deliver to all of long island (new york).
I recently ordered $6500. worth of cedar and P.T. for a deck over the phone.
When I got the delivery it looked like I had hand picked every piece myself.
I'd use them even if their prices were higher, but they're competitive, and sometimes less then, the big boxes in the area.
buic
Just lost our old yard this year, Miner & Alexander in New London. They never looked funny at the old woman buying lumber, & they delivered free, upstairs, or wherever I needed it. I miss them!
We are lucky to have 2 small chains in the next town over. They still have knowlegeable staff & a big selection, but it's not like Miner's!
we have a nice little one about 30 minutes from my house that i like.--- it's got the the things I like----- hot dipped galv. roofing nails in BULK,-- #1 southern yellow pine framing lumber----a 2x10 - or a 2x12---14 feet long MIGHT have a single knot in it the size of a quarter, 2x6 clear cedar--- can't even count the growth rings per inch ---they are that fine, #1 vertical grain cedar claps-------god they are beautiful--and at $78 a bundle i am glad the CUSTOMERS pay the costs, LOL, 5/4 local grown oak,poplar,maple,cherry, barnstone----you name it--they never disappoint. I think all the counter people are woodworkers on the side
it's NICE to buy from salespeople who know more than I do
Stephen
wow;
wish i could find lumber like that, hardwood is about the only thing that i can still get good quality material in. We had a hundred year old hardware store that catered to contractors, it was in a two story building, about 60' x 100' and held more useable goods than the slowes or home despot. drywall screws for 1.80 a pound. I bought my first skill saw there in 1973 a 6 1/2" worm drive skill saw, cost a 112.50 and lasted thru 20 years of framing. They closed the doors a couple of months ago, made me want to quit.
"Lano Estacado" I see is your 10-20. I used to live in Lubbock with a couple brief stops in Amarillo and a small town called tulip or tulia????where on the Plains are you exactly?
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Canyon, it is the first town south of amarillo, and the first one north of happy.
They never looked funny at the old woman buying lumber
We lost a hardware store 2 years ago that was owned by a woman. She never had any men working for her since she opened. She trained 'em good before dhe allowed them to work too.
Guys used to go in and try to 'trip up' the new girl. I far as I know nobody ever did though. Some were 19 and 20 years old and the training she gave them must have been out of this world.
Wish she'd train some of guys I've seen that already know it all.
I dont do plumbing so I went to her to find out what I needed to fix it myself. I was working on a shower faucet and it still leaked. She asked me if I changed the seats out. I told her I was working on the shower and not the toilet.
She said "I forgot who I was talking to...follow me I'll show you."
She just finally retired though, nobody could run her out of business.When everthing is going your way, you're in the wrong lane
She sounds like a woman after my own heart! She must have been some tough, & some smart - I would like to have known her.
She was an amazing woman that worked until she closed the store. It was her passion. The only place you could get the old Zinsco breakers they quit making back in the sixties or seventies. Or pretty much anything else you needed.
Forget googling, just go to her store and she had it or could get it in less than three days.
When everthing is going your way, you're in the wrong lane
New London... Minnesota?
New London...Connecticut, on the Thames, rhymes with hames.
There's one old time yard left around here, that has "remainders" of odd sizes (Mary, the owner, in her eighties, knows where everything in the yard is off the top of her head; our carpenter son, 31 or so, would be in love with her if the ages meshed a little better); and a yard that caters to contractors but lets us civilians shop there too, with high quality lumber and good selections but not too much "old" stuff. And a yard an hour away that stocks some of the Victorian siding and trim that our old house needs. Guess I'm lucky as I sit here writing out this list.
Good thing, too - I took apart one of the kitchen windows today, and I'm going to need to rebuild it completely AND replace some cracked siding, so tomorrow is dedicated to finding window sill, siding, etc. that will work.
We used tohave three lumber yards in town now there is one . It is of the RP lumber chain.
But the best old yards are 20 and 30 miles from my place . One is Hoffrichters in Pontiac very good lumber. The other is Maze Lumber in Peru ,started in 1848. they have a lot of good stuff or know where to get it . They are the guys who make the Maze nails
Next time your in Peru drive over to LaSalle and check out Herrcke's hardware store, been in the same spot since the 1880's,still family owned I believe,love to get my hands on those floor to ceiling cabinet and bin units.
Herrche's is doing a little advertising on the radio this year. Never heard them on air before . That store has to be like Williams hardware in Streator , Burnt in 58 . and Jordans hardware in Ottawa it burnt about 5 years ago. They had everything that you could want and never gave you a stupid look if you asked for something that they never heard of.
hope the radio spots help, Herrche,s was the only store I could find that carried the hammer handles I like. The Ace store in Streator has pretty good service,I got most of the stuff I needed from them when I was helping my BIL get his house ready to sell.
You did not need electrical stuff then . Streator Ace is very lacking in wire and outlets . They used to have 4conductor wire and fixtures for 3phase . not any more . We have to go to Lasalle/Peru or Pontiac to get serious electrical supplies. Screws and bolts are getting thinned out also at Ace.
Edited 8/27/2007 10:54 pm ET by donpapenburg
The Chatham RP has excellent service, but the lumber isn't any better than Lowes/Menards.jt8
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner, liberty is a well armed lamb protesting the vote." -- Benjamin Franklin
Wow you have a Lowes/Menards that has decent lumber?
Our RP has fairly good lumber if you want anything over 2x6.
Wow you have a Lowes/Menards that has decent lumber?
No, that was my point ;)
jt8
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner, liberty is a well armed lamb protesting the vote." -- Benjamin Franklin
I'm still looking for a good yard. When I was up north by Buic, I did okay, but here it's tough.
There are mostly hardware stores (newer style), but to some extent they carry lumber. Can't get much trim there and certainly nothing unusual, but framing stuff they got. I've heard about one that's 45 minutes away. I may have to take a ride over one day.
There's a question -
Is it more fun to go to a hardware store or to go to a lumber yard?
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
There are still a couple of good yards left in the area. Two of them are in Jersey just across the river both about 20 minutes from my place.
Neice Lumber in Lambertville NJ carries a full line of building materials plus a wide array of lumbers such as cedar, clear fir, hardwoods etc. Good show room too. They are expensive but they have the stuff that the guys in the box stores never even heard of. Good service too, they get to know you.
There was/is a place in Hopewell NJ that had been around for a very long time. The owner who ran the place was well into his 80's the last time I was there about 5 years ago. I'm sure it's shut down by now as it was on its last legs then. But walking around, you could see the remains of what once was a thriving yard. Old saws rusting away, a forgotten calender from the 50's, the old wood stove still used (I'm sure there were many games of checkers played around that thing), some of the old graying moldings were vintage stock from the 40's & 50's I'm sure he would have let go for a song.
What once was so common in my own childhood is now all but disappeared from the landscape, like Mailpouch Tobacco signs painted on barns. Everything changes, it's inevitable. Forty years ago who would have ever dreamed of a laser printer or an Ipod?
Jer,
I think the place in Hopewell is gone. Niece in Lambertville is awsome but a pain in the a$$ to get to these days. How long are they gonna have Lambertville all torn up for anyway?
Two other places,in New Jersey anyway: Huston lumber in Lamington and Watchung and Opdykes in Frenchtown and Bellemead. Both have more than one yard but are still small enough to offer personal service.
I thought there was a yard in Upper Black Eddy too, but I can't remember the name.
In Vincenes Indiana there's a place called Beards lumber and hardware. Just like the old days when you walk in the door. They even have the old scales for weighing nails. Ever once in awhle we get over that way for work. I like to go in and poke around and smell. One time I even found a chisel on the shelf made by Bluegrass. They've been out of business since the early eighties. They still have a Bluegrass hardware sign sticking up in their parking lot. That was my first clue that it might be good.
.
Whale Oil Beef Hooked.
At the old yard where I bought in Colorado, I had to call the owner one PM when I had an embarrassing emergency need of something.
He met me there to unlock the gate, then gave me the key. Said this is an extra key, keep it. just let me know on monday when ever you get something
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!