Curtis Lumber History

Our Beginnings

  • 1827 – Captain Isaac Henry Curtiss builds first sawmill on Charlton Road.
  • 1890 – Business purchased by Elmer A. Curtis. Drops second “s” of name as waste of time. Inception of modern day Curtis Lumber Company.
  • 1910 – Fire destroys Curtis sawmill, but is rebuilt.
  • 1938 – Kent Curtis assumes ownership from father, Elmer.
  • 1949 – Robert K. Curtis assumes ownership from father, Kent, and establishes Curtis Lumber Company Inc.

Expansion

  • 1952 – New office constructed with nine employees.
  • 1955 – Retail store built in front of existing sawmill; expands into hardware and adds 11 employees.
  • 1958 – Dam gives way, sawmill ceases operations.
  • 1966 – Schuylerville store purchased from Schneible & Shepard.
  • 1967 – Warrensburg store purchased from Delbert Pasco (Hardware/Sawmill)
  • 1969 – Curtis Lumber clears way for construction of new Ballston Spa location.
  • 1971 – Schodack store opens; formerly Dorn Lumber.
  • 1972 – New sawmill opens.
  • 1974 – Delmar store opens; formerly Delmar Lumber
  • 1976 – Curtis Lumber moves from Charlton Road store to current location: 885 Route 67, Ballston Spa.
  • 1981 – Hoosick Falls store opens.
  • 1982 – Mill fire closes sawmill operation.
  • 1986 – Amsterdam and Glens Falls stores open.
  • 1989 – Schroon Lake store opens.
  • 1990 – Curtis Lumber celebrates 100th anniversary and expansion to current 130,000 sq. ft. store.
  • 1992 – Jay S. Curtis becomes president and assumes ownership of nine locations from father, Robert.
  • 1994 – Perth store opens (relocation of Amsterdam store).
  • 1994 – Fort Plain and Granville stores open.
  • 1997 – Queensbury store opens (relocation of Glens Falls store).
  • 2001 – Chris Curtis, Jay’s son, begins working at Curtis Lumber.
  • 2004 – Curtis Lumber is Pro Sales Magazine’s Dealer of The Year.
  • 2005 – Purchases seven Webb & Sons stores in Central New York (Norwich, Delhi, Hamilton, New Berlin, Greene, Sherburne, Waterville).
  • 2006 – Purchases four Gregory Supply stores in Northern New York and Vermont (Plattsburgh, Ray Brook, Burlington, VT, Williston, VT).
  • 2007 – Over 500 employees and over 150 million dollars in sales. New York and Northern Vermont’s largest independent building supplier.
  • 2008 – Curtis Lumber is Home Channel News’ Pro Dealer of The Year.
  • 2008 – Kylie (Curtis) Holland, Jay’s daughter, begins working at Curtis Lumber.
  • 2008 – Greene store location closes.
  • 2010 – First Petapalooza – Curtis Lumber Pet Adoption Day.
  • 2014 – Top 40 fastest growing lumber companies in the U.S. (ProSales Magazine).
  • 2015 – Jay Curtis receives NYS Assembly Citation Award from Assemblyman Jim Tedisco.

Today

  • 2015 – Curtis Lumber celebrates 125 years in business with 21 locations throughout NY and VT.
  • 2018 – Curtis Lumber celebrates 200 million dollars in sales.
  • 2019 – Curtis Lumber purchases two additional locations in Richmondville and Sidney New York. Sherburne store closes.
  • 2021-Purchases Wiley Brothers in Schaghticoke, NY; Curtis Lumber now has 23 locations. New East Greenbush store is completed, built on same site location.