The Orchard City's Lumber Yard Hits the Big 75

Once, the Orchard City was covered by, you guessed it, orchards. And was there to provide the redwood needed to build the irrigation flumes.

Established in 1936 and headed by the Saunders and Woodfills since 1951, Economy Lumber is celebrating 75 years in business today.

"It's a bit of humble pride," says JD Saunders, Economy Lumber Vice President and part of the business' third generation. "It took a lot of hard work to getting it this far. Fred and Lewis and John and Bill all had conservative approaches and generosity with employees, and that served the company well and positioned it to stay afloat during these tough times."

Saunders' grandfather, Fred Saunders and his partner, Lewis Woodfill were added to the business as partners in 1951. There had been a second location in San Jose but was closed in the early 1960s.

The 36-employee company is now owned by John Saunders, JD's father, and Bill Woodfill, Lewis' son. There had been other partners prior to Woodfill and Saunders but they were bought out in 1964.

For Saunders, this business is all in the family. He is the third generation to work at the lumber yard and says that his ties, and those of the business, to the past are relived every day.

"There are employees here that worked with my grandfather and my dad," he says. "They have cool things to say about what my grandfather did for them. Some talk about my grandfather teaching them the value of hard work.

"These stories keep you grounded and bridge the origins of the company to it now," he says. "It's not something that happens every day. These stories are a living history within the business and it's great to be part of that."

Although he is not completely sure why his family became involved in the lumber business, JD does trace the connection to his grandfather's past.

"My grandfather had worked in Northern California in the saw mills," Saunders says. "I don’t know his prior history but the area was also growing and there was a built-in customer base. There was a conversion from orchards to residential construction taking place."

And as to why they chose Campbell as an optimal location and closed the San Jose one, JD thinks it might have had to do with growth.

"The location in San Jose was getting crowded and built around," he says. "Campbell was still largely orchards but still in the middle of a lot of growth. There wasn't a lot of congestion here. We had material to build houses. It was the best of both situations."

The business has had a good niche of customers here in Campbell and are certified with sustainable forestry groups, such as Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Forestry Stewardship Council.

"We're at easy striking distance from south bay cities from this spot," JD says. "From Carmel to San Francisco, we are in a good area to serve most of those populations in the Bay Area."

But what really sets this 75-year-old business apart from the rest is that it is a third generation business that continues to give back to its community.

Economy Lumber actively supports projects by volunteer and non profit groups as well as little leagues, schools and boy scouts.

"We are evolving, and that helps ensure survival," JD says. "You have to change with the times."

Economy Lumber will have a 75th anniversary celebration today, June 14th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at 720 Camden Ave. Light refreshments will be served