History of Deer Park Lumber, Inc.
The first sawmill at Deer Park's current site was established in 1965 by John Davenport and Henry Kalinowski, and was called D & K Lumber Company. The small saw mill cut 8,000 board feet per day and in 1972 a second saw mill was added which increased production to 10,000 board feet per day.
In August of 1972, D& K was bought by the partnership called Deer Park Lumber Construction Company. The partnership incorporated in April 1978 and became Deer Park Lumber Incorporated. The mill ran through 1982 with some minor equipment changes and production was increased to approximately 13,000 board feet per day.
In August of 1982, Deer Park Lumber was purchased by the man that would change the history of the company forever, that man is Ronald A. Andrews. From that point on, dynamic changes took place bringing the saw mill to the prosperous business it is today boasting 5 kilns that dry over 8 million board feet per year.
Today Ron and his family manage the business in an atmosphere that promotes self growth, customer service, and the best quality. Mr. Andrews is the driving force behind the company, and he is very concerned about the forests of this fine state and our country. He purchased and donated the truck and trailer for the WoodMobile which travels Pennsylvania as an educational exhibit. The company has added a forestry division that helps individuals make smart decisions where their woodlot is concerned preventing the total destruction of one of our finest resources. Not to mention that Deer Park Lumber is one of the only companies that has an educational coordinator who hosts school tours of the sawmill and presents a forest products educational program to students in their classrooms.
Below is a timeline of the many changes that Deer Park Lumber Incorporated has experienced. Deer Park Lumber Incorporated will continue to grow and prosper with the leadership of Ronald Andrews, his family and dedicated employees, that he calls "family."
Time Line of changes
1982-1991 Chipper was moved, conveyor belt added, debarker moved increasing the length of the carriage infeed deck, whole log metal detector installed, building added to cover debarker, trim saw replaced and location moved to allow better lumber flow, new greenchain building was constructed to house the new trimsaw and stacking area.
1991 resaw installed with additional cant storage, workforce up to 42 fulltime employees and 3 part-time, production up to 32,000 board feet, fourth kiln added, automatic lumber stacker and grading station were added.
1986 secondary processing facility added, two 50,000 board feet dry kilns added.
1989 third kiln added.
1995 fifth kiln added giving Deer Park Lumber a 250,000 board drying feet capacity, sawmill rebuilt with a new headsaw and carriage, resaw, gang edger, trimsaw, transfer and waste conveyors.
1998 mill building was extended and the horizontal resaw and optimizer edger were installed.
2003 four foot headsaw added expanding production to 55,000 board feet per day.
2004 gang edger was replaced with a new four foot tilt resaw.
2007 current production 60,000 board feet per day, 75 full time, 6 part time employees.