Derstler Lumber: 50 years of heritage and hardware
Cristin Hubbard, Richmond News Staff
07-30-2010
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Derstler Lumber Co., supplier of lumber, hardware and home improvement products for the Richmond community since 1960.Unlike many businesses and corporations today, Derstler Lumber Co. at 900 Walton Way is staffed by multiple generations of the Derstler family. Darrell Derstler, his wife, mother, sister and two nephews along with additional employees work every day to serve Richmond and the surrounding areas.
THE BEGINNING
The matriarch of the Derstler family, Norma Derstler, said her father-in-law Louis Derstler and her husband Don Derstler, both farmers at the time, purchased Long Bell Lumber Company in 1960.
“Louis saw the ad in The Daily News, Richmond News at that time, and called Don and wanted to know if he was interested in buying a lumber yard,” Norma Derstler said. “Don … he’s always had stomach and back trouble so Louis was trying to get him off the tractor. We went down there that night and Don says, ‘Why not, I haven’t tried it.’”
The original Derstler Lumber Co. was located across from Swafford’s Ford Sales Inc. at 218 S. Thornton with a lumber yard two blocks north behind The Jones Store.
Although the business has been owned by different people over the years, it has never left the hands of the Derstler family. Trying to explain who bought it and when gets “long and ugly” said current owner Darrell Derstler with a laugh.
Full story is in the Friday, July 30, 2010 edition of the Richmond News
Photo: The crew at Derstler Lumber Co. is made up of multiple generations of Derstlers as well as some employees who have become family over the years. Front row: Josh Paige, Lynn Chaney, Terri Derstler and Tara Eidson. Back row: Norma Derstler, Karen Teegarden, Adam Hall, Andrew Teegarden and Darrell Derstler. (Photo by Cristin Hubbard/Richmond News)
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