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COMPANY HISTORY

1947

Roy & Virginia Aggeler with $500 in hand start John’s Lumber which is named after their oldest son John (1 year old).
Friends ask “why are you moving out so far from the city?”
Gratiot Avenue was a dirt road.
When they started John’s Lumber there was no McDonalds, Kmart, Burger King or J.C. Penney.
A postage stamp cost .03 cents
Gasoline sells for .15 cents
Average new car cost $1,290.
Life expectancy 62.9 years.

1949

“Profits small, business great” owner says that’s the way we operate.
Suddenly, Roy Aggeler gets polio and thinks “There goes the company”.
Being a religious man, prayers are answered and 6 months later business back to usual.
Phone number to John’s Lumber is four digits – 7559.
Gasoline soars to .18 cents per gallon.

1955

John’s Lumber boasts the lowest price anywhere - .39 cents for a 2x4-8.
Eight-year anniversary of John’s Lumber, 2 trucks now and thinking of buying a forklift.
New home cost $10,950.
Gasoline is now all the way up to .23 cents per gallon – where will this end?
.92 cents for a gallon of milk, awfully high, but they delivered it.
A loaf of bread .18 cents.
Stanley Cup Winners – “Detroit Red Wings”

1963

John’s Lumber will shoot for but fall short of a million dollars in sales - $893,784.
John’s Lumber has best year ever and buys used forklift.
John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
Beatles get first U.S. hit – “I Want to Hold Your Hand”.
Brad Pitt born December 18^th
Heisman Trophy Winner – Roger Staubach from Navy
One of American’s favorite TV shows is “Bonanza” (remember Hoss).
Gas is .29 cents per gallon

1969 –1969

John’s Lumber builds new 100 x 120 lumber shed.
Mario Andretti wins Indianapolis 500 (1969)
Marcus Welby M.D. a favorite t.v. show on ABC
Neil Armstrong walks on the moon.
John’s Lumber now employs 38 people and business is going strong.
Postage stamps are .06 cents.
If you had a color TV, you were cool
A favorite song is: “In The Year 2525” by Zager & Evans. Time is moving way too fast.
Vietnam War is raging.

1975

John’s Lumber sells 2.2 million this year and Roy Aggeler thanks God for his success.
The cost of a new home is $39,300 (average).
Jimmy Hoffa disappears forever.
Life expectancy is now 72.6 years
Bill Gates & Paul Allen found Microsoft, the company contracted to write software for Altair (personal computer).
John’s Lumber names son Michael Aggeler to be president.
People vow not to use the U.S. postal because stamps go up to .13 cents – how could this be possible?
President of the United States is Gerald Ford.

1980 –1982

John’s Lumber sales approach 3.1 million, 39 employees, but times are really tough.
Interest rates soar to 18% - complete recession hits the U.S.A.
1980 Roy Aggeler loses his battle with caner on August 2^nd – passes on to his Creator.
Gasoline is now .91 cents per gallon – where will it end? It won’t.
The lumber shed collapses under weight of a 24 hour 12” snow & rainstorm.
First National Bank calls note during troubled times. John’s Lumber secures new borrowings in 3 days with Liberty State Bank.
Average new car cost $7,983.00
John’s Lumber opens 2^nd location at Garfield & Canal.

1988

John’s Lumber sales go over 10 million as owners promise a cruise for all employees.
The Berlin Wall is torn down
The earthquake in San Francisco hits just as the World Series is to begin 1989.
John’s Lumber moves 2^nd location to Shelby Township.
Gas is .97 cents per gallon
Average cost of a new home is $120,000.
Postage stamps are .25 cents
Milk is $2.62 per gallon
The big boxes, Home Depot, Home Quarters, Builder Square & Lowes do battle.

1991 – 1994

John’s Lumber sales continue to climb - 12 million, 14 million, 16 million, 20 million, 26 million.
John’s Lumber management takes all employees and spouses on a trip to Palm Springs, California (CARE 90 – Customer Always Receive Excellence).
John’s Lumber team of employees is now at 95 people and growing.
John’s Lumber continues to expand its services & product lines to the professional builder and contractors.
Desert Storm is fought.

1997

John’s Lumber sales approach 30 million
John’s Lumber boasts – “Profits Small, Business Great, That’s the Way We Operate”
Bill Clinton is our President
Stanley Cup Champions – Detroit Red Wings
Virginia Aggeler passes at the age of 75. God welcomes her.
Gasoline is $1.22 per gallon
Average new home $124,100.00
Movie ticket approaches $5.00
John’s Lumber open new division Dimensions, a wholesale company.

2000

John’s Lumber Sales would reach 34 million this year with 118 employees. $288,135.00 sales per employee.
Y2K scare – many thought the end of the world was near.
Cost of a first-class stamp: .34 cents
Oprah Winfrey debuts O magazine
“I love you” virus disrupts computers worldwide

2001

2004

Homes hit the average of $200,000.00 – where will this end.
This summer John’s Lumber employs 131 team members.
Gas is at $1.60 per gallon
John’s Lumber records its larges sales volume in its 58-year history.
The war in Iran continues as unrest in the Middle East persists.
John’s Lumber implemented the finest floor system (Engineered Wood Products) in the country, following the commitment to quality.
NBA Championship – Detroit defeats Los Angeles

2005-2006

John’s Lumber is still experiencing customer loyalty.
Katrina slams New Orleans
Gas prices not hit $2.35 per gallon
Home building falls to a standstill.
Michigan and the entire country suffer from a lack of construction and home building.
John’s Lumber sales fall but the home improvement projects, decks, kitchens, and additions continue to flow.
The Aggeler Family is honored as the Family of the Year by March of Dimes.
In the World Series St. Louis Cardinals defeated Detroit Tigers

2007

New saying: Business super competitive, profits none, still love this business, and would like to be of service to you. John’s Lumber – the place where customers truly are king!
In April John’s Lumber celebrates 60 years in servicing you – the people.
New website launched - this one!