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| 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
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
| Ph 269.983.6575 Fx 269.983.5621 |
| www.homebuilderslumber.com |
| Home Builders Lumber Co. 655 Ann Street P.O. Box 289 St. Joseph, Michigan 49085 |
