History of Coastal Lumber Company
WE AREN’T HISTORY, but we have
a lot of it. We
recognize to rely or dwell on history is ill advised.
However, our history is full of perseverance and resilience
that we have learned from and continue in present times.
Coastal Lumber Company is a private family
owned business. Coastal
was started by Victor C. Barringer, the grandfather of our present
owner. Mr. Barringer was
a forester for Sumter Hardwood Co. in
Sumter, SC.
During the early 1900’s many
South Carolina timber companies laid
temporary rail tracks into swamps and extracted logs with steam
locomotives.
Undoubtedly, Mr. Barringer earned his stripes in this fashion.
Ready to strike out on his own, Mr. Barringer started Coastal
Lumber in 1937 in Lake City, SC.
Logistics not being then what they are today, sawmills would
often relocate based on resource availability.
In the late 1940’s the Lake
City mill was sold and a new mill in Weldon, NC
was started. At that
time timber from the
Roanoke
basin and nearby river bottoms of VA was prevalent.
Strategically, Weldon was a
railroad center located on the main line of the
Atlantic
Coast and Seaboard Air
Line Railroads. It was
also located on the main North-South highway of the time, US 301.
Construction of the Weldon mill was completed
in 1949. Mr. Barringer
brought R.G. Bell with him from
South Carolina
to be operations manager, Steve Conger was hired as sales manager,
and Dan Shipley ran the Weldon mill.
Keeping it in the family as we often have; Dan Shipley’s son
Lyman worked for and still advises Coastal Lumber and Dan’s
granddaughter is Coastal's current controller.
Steve Conger’s son Steve Jr. worked for Coastal in
procurement and his son Bob guided sales for years and is presently
Sr. Vice President.
In 1959, Paul Barringer, with R.G. Bell and
Steve Conger bought the Weldon mill from Paul’s father.
This became the springboard for acquisition and construction
that grew into the modern era Coastal Lumber Company.
Growth continued, with significant hurdles at times, to
ultimately create a company generating $300 million in revenue and
operating, at its peak, 4 southern yellow pine sawmills, 3 treating
plants, 1 plywood plant, and 19 hardwood operations.
This growth was not without challenges.
An often recounted story involves a long time furniture belt
salesman getting a call in the early ‘80’s on his very rare car
phone that was installed in his Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.
The call was from the sales manager to let this rep know the
rumors about Coastal going bankrupt were not true, if he heard them.
Imagine making a productive sales call after that phone call!
Recessions hit large companies hard.
Coastal Lumber through sound management and great people has
persevered through many of these since 1949.
Each time Coastal has adapted and adjusted, making
improvements that have enabled us to rebound stronger.
In 2004, the creation of subsidiaries to
distinguish between the various businesses was completed and Coastal
Lumber Company became an independent entity under the leadership of
the third generation of the family to guide it, Victor C. Barringer,
son of Paul and grandson of Victor C. Barringer.
The beginning of this independence started well
with housing starts at two million and seemingly endless economic
prosperity. Yet, another
reason we have history.
It reminds us that things are not always rosy, and it can encourage
us that we have the capability to survive and then thrive. That is
where we are now, survivors.
Smaller than we have been, but still guided by the principle
of fair business and strong relationships that enabled a forester
from SC to spark a company that is 73 years young and counting.