Forest Lumber's colorful history - Idyllwild Town Crier

Page 2 - Idyllwild Town Crier, Home Improvement 2008Forest Lumber’s colorful historyThe thriving lumber and hardware store has an ambiance of sawdust, nuts and nails that harks back to the 1940s.By Betty BaileyWalking through the doors ofIdyllwild’s Forest Lumber islike stepping back in time.You’re greeted like an old friend, bya familiar employee who is ready topoint you in the right direction, explainthe subtleties of a laser level orloan you the perfect tool to replacethat hard-to-reach bolt under yourbathroom sink. Unlike its big-cityrivals with their prepackaged goods,Forest Lumber still does things theold-fashioned way.“We have lots of things in bins,”said store manager Jim Adams. “Wehave nail bins, so you can still buytwo nails if you want.”The merchandise is state-of-the-artbut, in the lumber building, you’llfind a heavy, antique table saw andplaner that were made in the 1940sat the Long Beach Naval Shipyard.They’re still in use today and, whenthe machines needed new parts afew years ago, Adams had no troublefinding replacements.“We just called the manufacturer,”said Adams. “There were just a fewof these made back then and theyknow where each one is.”Forest Lumber has been anIdyllwild fixture since the 1940s. Backthen it was a sawmill, located at thesite that is now Camp Maranatha.Clarence Bischof was the owner.His son Kent, one of Clarence’s fivechildren, was just a boy.“At that time, there were threesawmills on the Hill, including one inMountain Center,” said Kent Bischof.In 1949, when government regulationsdemanded the mills cut backon production, Bischof’s father shutdown the mill and opened a lumberyardand hardware store.See Forest Lumber, page 4Forest Lumber’s Jim Adams runs a board through the ancient saw in the saw shop.Although built in the middle part of the last century, Adams says he can still getparts for it.Photo by Betty BaileyLooking for a reliable contractor?42% of our customers have called us backto do a second construction project. Some have called usto do three or more projects. Hey, we even return phone calls!If you would like to see one of our decks,we would be glad to show you.PERFORMANCEPUMPINGv Septic Certifications vv Septic Pumping vv Leach SystemsRepair & Replacements vv Backhoe & Dumptruck vv Video Pipe Inspection & Repair vv New Construction veric townsend construction co.decks additions remodels garages carports(951) 659 – 5152www.erictownsendconstruction.comstate license #361734 established 1978Toll Free 1-866-860-6532Fax (951) 927-4268Cell (951) 830-3529Fully Licensed and BondedC-42 License # 799834 v Brad Hamby, Owner