Rochester Lumber Company

Alvah F. Stahl was born March 24, 1876 in Seneca Falls, New York. In 1897, after having worked in the construction business with his father, he started his own company. He left Seneca Falls in 1907 to take his business to New Jersey, but, disliking all the travelling to New York City that the job required, he moved back to Rochester, New York.

On August 1, 1909, Alvah and Frederick E. Wyatt formed Rochester Lumber Company at the premises of Mr. Wyatt's former business at 2040 East Avenue, Rochester, New York. This site and several of the buildings are still in use by the company today.

The company, in its early years, prospered through the sale of building materials, concrete building blocks, which it manufactured, and burial vaults. The company also built and sold homes until the early 30's. As lumber was difficult to acquire during and after the war, the company owned a lumber mill in Maine for a few years in the 40's, so it could supply the needs of it's customers.

Mr. Wyatt was President from 1909 to 1934. Alvah Stahl served as the company President from 1934 to 1965. Alvah's brother, Murray, joined the firm in 1924, after the death of their father, whom Murray was working for at the time. Murray followed in his brother's footsteps as President from 1965 to 1971. Murray's eldest son, Frederick, joined the company in 1944, and increased the company work force to eight employees. He served as its President from 1971 to 1982. Murray's youngest son, Jerry, joined the firm in 1961. He has served as it's President since 1982.

Feeling the need to expand its base, the company started, in 1966, to manufacture roof trusses and wall panels with two employees in rented space at 80 North Main Street, Fairport. Outgrowing this space, the company built a new facility in 1971 at 6080 Collett Road, Victor, New York.

November 1975 saw the company expand into the builder's trim business and also into the do-it-yourself portion of the retail lumber business with the acquisition of the East Rochester division at 103 North Washington Street. Shortly thereafter, the wall panel portion of the manufacturing unit was discontinued. and in its place, the company set up an extensive millwork operation.

In September 1985, a retail store at 125 West Main Street, Honeoye Falls, was opened.

In 1998, the company refocused on who their customer was and where we wanted our future to be. This led to a recommittment to the professional builder, and the closing of the retail branch in Honeoye Falls, along with realigning services and inventory to better serve these professionals.

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