 |  |  |  |
| The History of Home Builders Lumber Company |
To our valued customers, a few little known facts about Home Builders Lumber Co. and
the family that has owned and operated it for the past 50 years! You have found the
best kept secret in Southwest Michigan, or welcome to our place in cyber space. This is
the official Home Builders Lumber Co. web site and we would like to thank you for
visiting us and for your continued patronage and support. Here you will find a brief
history of the twin cities and how the Shell family and Home Builders Lumber Co. has
been involved in our past and present and continue to be a part of the future of the twin
cities and Michigan's great southwest.
Home Builders Lumber was founded on the banks of the St. Joseph River in 1954 by
Edward Shell. Grandpa Shell was a road salesman for the Curtis Window and Door
Company based out of Chicago Illinois, and settled in the twin city area in the 1940's.
Back then, Grandpa Shell originally leased property at the current location from the
railroad that operated a round house and water filling station, as well as, providing rail
service to the lumber yard. Back then, the manufacturing industry was the largest
purchaser of lumber material. Plywood sales for the construction of PT boats for World
War II as well as the industrial needs of the Whirlpool Corporation, Heath Company,
Auto-Specialties, and Clark Equipment helped not only the economic foundation of our
community, but they also served as a starting point for a new lumber company.
Grandpa Shell worked to the young age of 82 before he retired and sold the business to
his son Wayne. Wayne Shell, having worked for his father and the company since he
was 23 years old, had the vision and opportunity to expand the base of business to
match the changing market and the changes in the twin cities. Buildings that were in
need of repair were removed and land, which was once leased from the railroad, was
purchased from the City of St. Joseph as well as the purchase of a warehouse and
property abandoned by Wolfs's Marina after fire destroyed their offices located adjacent
to the lumber yard. The manufacturing base, that once fueled the economy of the twin
cities, had started to migrate out of the area and again Home Builders Lumber Co. was
positioned to change with the times.
In 1999, Wayne Shell decided to retire, and left Home Builders Lumber Co. to his two
sons, Jeffrey and Greg, to operate.
The sons have been fortunate as well as aggressive in the way they have changed and
expanded the company. New staff members from other yards, a new state of the art
boom truck, and continued internal expansion have all helped Home Builders Lumber
meet the challenges of a contractor and new home building market.
Today, the Home Builders Lumber Co. has been blessed again with the fourth
generation of Shells to operate the "family" business. Greg Shell celebrated the birth
of his son, Campbell Joseph, on March 23rd, 2004. Looking to the future is always
confusing and uncertain, but if one thing is true, professional products serviced and
backed-up by professional people will keep the best kept secret in Southwestern
Michigan in business for many years to come.
We would like to thank you for stopping by our web site and appreciate the years of
loyal patronage. On behalf of the rest of my family and from families of all the
employees and people that help make our day to day lives so enjoyable, Thank you!!
Respectfully and with gratitude,
Jeffrey Shell
the family that has owned and operated it for the past 50 years! You have found the
best kept secret in Southwest Michigan, or welcome to our place in cyber space. This is
the official Home Builders Lumber Co. web site and we would like to thank you for
visiting us and for your continued patronage and support. Here you will find a brief
history of the twin cities and how the Shell family and Home Builders Lumber Co. has
been involved in our past and present and continue to be a part of the future of the twin
cities and Michigan's great southwest.
Home Builders Lumber was founded on the banks of the St. Joseph River in 1954 by
Edward Shell. Grandpa Shell was a road salesman for the Curtis Window and Door
Company based out of Chicago Illinois, and settled in the twin city area in the 1940's.
Back then, Grandpa Shell originally leased property at the current location from the
railroad that operated a round house and water filling station, as well as, providing rail
service to the lumber yard. Back then, the manufacturing industry was the largest
purchaser of lumber material. Plywood sales for the construction of PT boats for World
War II as well as the industrial needs of the Whirlpool Corporation, Heath Company,
Auto-Specialties, and Clark Equipment helped not only the economic foundation of our
community, but they also served as a starting point for a new lumber company.
Grandpa Shell worked to the young age of 82 before he retired and sold the business to
his son Wayne. Wayne Shell, having worked for his father and the company since he
was 23 years old, had the vision and opportunity to expand the base of business to
match the changing market and the changes in the twin cities. Buildings that were in
need of repair were removed and land, which was once leased from the railroad, was
purchased from the City of St. Joseph as well as the purchase of a warehouse and
property abandoned by Wolfs's Marina after fire destroyed their offices located adjacent
to the lumber yard. The manufacturing base, that once fueled the economy of the twin
cities, had started to migrate out of the area and again Home Builders Lumber Co. was
positioned to change with the times.
In 1999, Wayne Shell decided to retire, and left Home Builders Lumber Co. to his two
sons, Jeffrey and Greg, to operate.
The sons have been fortunate as well as aggressive in the way they have changed and
expanded the company. New staff members from other yards, a new state of the art
boom truck, and continued internal expansion have all helped Home Builders Lumber
meet the challenges of a contractor and new home building market.
Today, the Home Builders Lumber Co. has been blessed again with the fourth
generation of Shells to operate the "family" business. Greg Shell celebrated the birth
of his son, Campbell Joseph, on March 23rd, 2004. Looking to the future is always
confusing and uncertain, but if one thing is true, professional products serviced and
backed-up by professional people will keep the best kept secret in Southwestern
Michigan in business for many years to come.
We would like to thank you for stopping by our web site and appreciate the years of
loyal patronage. On behalf of the rest of my family and from families of all the
employees and people that help make our day to day lives so enjoyable, Thank you!!
Respectfully and with gratitude,
Jeffrey Shell
| Phone 269-983-6575 Fax 269-983-5621 |
| www.homebuilderslumber.com |
| Home Builders Lumber Company 655 Ann Street P.O. Box 289 St. Joseph, Michigan 49085 |