The Lumberyard office/retail building at 200 S. Pendleton Ave., the location of the former Pendleton Lumber Company and Pendleton True Value Lumber from 1947 to 2004.
Pendeton True Value Lumber, which operated until 2004 and previously had been Pendleton Lumber Co., which was started in 1947.
The children of Jim Craig, who started Pendleton Lumber Co., at the plaque dedication on Monday, Dec. 5: Katy Burke, Sally Childress, Pete Craig and Annie Wills.
Beth Kahl Humphrey, daughter of Kurt Kahl, and Diana Stoner Dickerson and Debbie Stoner, daughters of Laurel Stoner, attended the plaque dedication.
FAMILIES, FRIENDS CELEBRATE FORMER LUMBERYARD OWNERS
By Sue Hughes | For The Times-Post
PENDLETON — Pendleton residents who have lived in town a couple of decades or more probably remember Pendleton Lumber Co., or True Value Lumber Co., as it was later called. The business operated at the southwest corner of Pendleton Avenue and High Street from 1947 until 2004.
Although it has been gone for almost 20 years, several Pendleton residents and former employees fondly remember the time they spent there.
Real estate agent and longtime Pendleton resident Mike Hanna wanted to ensure the memories and good times would not be forgotten when the building was sold.
“When I sold this building … I asked the new owner, (Chris) Schulhof, if we could do something for these guys,” Hanna said. “Everybody respected and knew them.”
Schulhof, who renovated the space into an office and retail building — and gave a nod to the past by calling it the Lumberyard — agreed to place a plaque at the front door commemorating former owners Jim Craig, Laurel Stoner and Kurt Kahl.
On Monday afternoon, a group of old friends and customers along with family members gathered at the site of the former lumberyard to see the unveiling of the plaque.
Story continues below photos.
Jim Craig opened Pendleton Lumber Co. in 1947 and ran it until 1960, when he became employed at Pendleton Savings and Loan.
He continued to own the business until he sold it to Kurt Kahl and Laurel Stoner. Kahl and Stoner began a partnership as Pendleton True Value Lumber Co.
“After the purchase of the lumberyard with his co-worker and lifelong friend, Kurt Kahl, he spent his entire working years running that business,” Stoner’s daughter Diana Dickerson said. “Working with his hands and helping others were his passion, along with restoring antique cars and serving as a volunteer fireman.”
Stoner was a member of Pendleton Volunteer Fire Department for 42 years.
After Stoner’s death, Kahl took over ownership of the business. Kahl ran it from 1969 to 2004, when he retired.
Kahl served 40 years on Pendleton Volunteer Fire Department, 19 of those years as chief.
Many of Kahl’s employees were also members of the fire department.
“When the fire whistle went off the lumberyard would empty out,” Katy Craig Burke said.
When he wasn’t waiting on customers or fighting a fire, Kahl was active around the community.
He helped start the local ambulance service and was a founding member of both the Pendleton Park Board and the South Madison Community Foundation.
Kahl was a member of Pendleton United Methodist Church, where he served as trustee. He was a benevolent contributor to many people and projects anonymously.
“We are remembering some really good people here today,” Kahl’s wife, Beckie, said.
“They did so much for the town that the town didn’t know anything about. And they wanted it that way,” said Tim McClintock, a former employee.
Madison County Sheriff Scott Mellinger fondly remembers coming to the lumberyard as a child.
“I spent countless mornings with my grandpa and my dad, drinking coffee and telling lies. I guess you could say I’m a third generation lumberyard fan. And if it was still here, I would bring my grandson.”
Many people in the crowd talked about sitting around the peanut barrel swapping stories.
Several members of all three men’s families were there for the dedication.
Annie Wills, Katy Burke, Sally Childress and Pete Craig represented Jim Craig. Diana Dickerson and Debbie Stoner were there for their dad, Laurel. Beth Humphrey and Beckie Kahl were present for Kahl.
“Many people in the community have the same recollection of being greeted (at the business) with a big smile and an eagerness to help anyone who walked through the door,” Dickerson said. “Our community was fortunate to have the local lumberyard and True Value to meet our needs over the years.”
Beckie Kahl smiled and said, “Kurt would say ‘thank you.’”
The plaque — which was ordered by Historic Fall Creek-Pendleton Settlement and paid for by the owners’ families — includes the Pendleton and True Value business names, years of operation and the three owners’ names. On Monday, the plan was to install the plaque in the entryway of the Lumberyard building, 200 S. Pendleton Ave., sometime this week.