The book closes on the Laurel lumber yard

In May 1943, the St. Anthony & Dakota Lumber Co. was sold to the Farmers Union Grain Terminal Association as part of a $2.3 million deal that included 135 grain elevators and 38 lumberyards located in several Midwestern states. The yards in Dixon, Concord, Coleridge and Laurel were included in the deal. For the next four years, the former St. Anthony would be known as Farmers Lumber & Supply.

In December 1947, stockholders voted to change the name of the company to Great Plains Supply. The ownership of the company remained the same and all employees, including manager Earl Bebee, were retained.

Selling lumber and building materials was big business when farms and towns were being developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. But once the building phase slowed down, lumber retailers were forced to diversify to remain in business. In the mid-1950s Great Plains began doing construction in addition to supplying building materials. “You can own a new home: 10% down, 4.5% interest, and 25 years to pay. Tell us what you want. We will do the planning, furnish the materials, build and finance it for you,” advertised the company.

In March 1958, Earl Bebee retired after managing the yard for more than 30 years. He was replaced by Harry Calhoon. A native of Coleridge, Calhoon had been managing........

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