Smith Lumber Company celebrates a century
Smith Lumber Company, a Do it Best dealer in Valley City, North Dakota, celebrated a century of business by hosting a weeklong community event last week.
“We’re humbled by the impressive turnout throughout the week,” said Tim Durheim, owner. “We sincerely appreciate everyone who came to show their support and celebrate 100 years with us.”
The 100th anniversary celebration event featured a vendor cook-off, live entertainment and special savings opportunities.
The company said it, “hosted complementary community games, as well as their 2nd annual vendor cook-off. Community members were able to purchase cook-off tickets for $5 to sample and vote for their favorite dishes from participating vendors.”
The business dates back to 1923 when Ben Grotte opened a distribution business downtown to serve the area’s coal needs.
By the early 1950s, said the firm, Grotte had sold the business to Jake Smith who operated Smith Lumber Company until the mid 1960s, when he sold it to the Wright family.
The Wright Family ushered the business through its first evolution into a dedicated lumber and building material supplier, catering to pro contractors.
In 2014, Durheim purchased the company, and grew the business to include hardware and home improvement supplies, rental tools and equipment, live plants and gardening supplies, and more.
Momentum from this second evolution steadily increased, said Durheim, and the owner and team, “completed an 11,000-square-foot expansion project in March 2022, allowing them to add retail items like work clothes, farm and ranch supplies, kitchen and plumbing supplies, housewares, and toys and games.”
Today, the company said it serves pro contractors and DIYers alike with a one-stop shopping experience.
“I’m energized by our continued growth, and I look forward to serving the Valley City community for years to come,” said Durheim.
