Company Description:
The Pineland Lumber Company was organized as a Maine Corporation over 95 years ago on March 12, 1912 with John C. West, President, Charles L. Turgeon, Treasurer and Albert E. Turgeon, Secretary. They bought the land and buildings from the owners, later selling the most southerly lots to the Lake Auburn Crystal Ice Company who cut ice on the Androscoggin River until a little before 1930.Prior to 1890 the property belonged to the R.C. Pingree Company, who ran a sawmill for many years. The brick building with the large chimney housed the boilers and engine. Logs were brought down the river and they were held in a boom near the shore. Sawn lumber was piled on the land, which nearly reached to the Maine Central Railroad. This was an operation of considerable size with an office where the former B. Peck Company warehouse was located on Middle Street, another where the Empire Theater stands and a large planing mill where the Bates Mill weave shed is now located. After a disasterous fire the saw mill property remained largely unoccupied until it was taken over by the present corporation except for periods when former Sheriff Love, and later West Brattler used it for sorting, grading, and concentrating pine lumber.In the beginning, planing machinery was set up in the brick building and the Corporation was chiefly occupied in dressing and shipping pine lumber, but local demands increased continuously and in a short time items were added to the inventory to satisfy the newer demands of the building trade.In 1920, John C. West sold his interest in the Corporation. In 1921, Frank L. Turgeon was elected President, and Henry W. Turgeon, Assistant Treasurer, Albert E. Turgeon remained as Secretary until his death in 1928. Charles L. Turgeon was Treasuer until he died in 1952. Henry W. Turgeon succeeded his father, Charles L. Turgeon as Treasurer until his death in 1976. From 1944, until his death in 1960, John L. Scott was President and he was succeeded by Kenneth A. Small who retired in 1977. William L. Scott served as President until 1993 when he retired. Henry N. Tukey, Jr. served as Treasurer and principal stockholder until his retirement in December, 1993. Neal A. Ouellette is currently President, and Ruth M. Gallagher serves as Treasurer. Neal and Ruth are the the present stockholders.The tremendous changes in building practices and materials over the years, would make it difficult for the orginal founders to recognize the lumber business they started almost a century ago. There are now a variety substitues for lumber, including plasterboard, plywood and related materials. Insulating materials were unknown at that time and sash, blinds, and doors are now manufactured in factories utilizing production lines which greatly reduce the cost of quality prefabricated millwork for consumers.
The Pineland Lumber Company was organized as a Maine Corporation over 95 years ago on March 12, 1912 with John C. West, President, Charles L. Turgeon, Treasurer and Albert E. Turgeon, Secretary. They bought the land and buildings from the owners, later selling the most southerly lots to the Lake Auburn Crystal Ice Company who cut ice on the Androscoggin River until a little before 1930.Prior to 1890 the property belonged to the R.C. Pingree Company, who ran a sawmill for many years. The brick building with the large chimney housed the boilers and engine. Logs were brought down the river and they were held in a boom near the shore. Sawn lumber was piled on the land, which nearly reached to the Maine Central Railroad. This was an operation of considerable size with an office where the former B. Peck Company warehouse was located on Middle Street, another where the Empire Theater stands and a large planing mill where the Bates Mill weave shed is now located. After a disasterous fire the saw mill property remained largely unoccupied until it was taken over by the present corporation except for periods when former Sheriff Love, and later West Brattler used it for sorting, grading, and concentrating pine lumber.In the beginning, planing machinery was set up in the brick building and the Corporation was chiefly occupied in dressing and shipping pine lumber, but local demands increased continuously and in a short time items were added to the inventory to satisfy the newer demands of the building trade.In 1920, John C. West sold his interest in the Corporation. In 1921, Frank L. Turgeon was elected President, and Henry W. Turgeon, Assistant Treasurer, Albert E. Turgeon remained as Secretary until his death in 1928. Charles L. Turgeon was Treasuer until he died in 1952. Henry W. Turgeon succeeded his father, Charles L. Turgeon as Treasurer until his death in 1976. From 1944, until his death in 1960, John L. Scott was President and he was succeeded by Kenneth A. Small who retired in 1977. William L. Scott served as President until 1993 when he retired. Henry N. Tukey, Jr. served as Treasurer and principal stockholder until his retirement in December, 1993. Neal A. Ouellette is currently President, and Ruth M. Gallagher serves as Treasurer. Neal and Ruth are the the present stockholders.The tremendous changes in building practices and materials over the years, would make it difficult for the orginal founders to recognize the lumber business they started almost a century ago. There are now a variety substitues for lumber, including plasterboard, plywood and related materials. Insulating materials were unknown at that time and sash, blinds, and doors are now manufactured in factories utilizing production lines which greatly reduce the cost of quality prefabricated millwork for consumers.