Welcome to Central Hardwoods!
Our roots in the lumber industry run as deep
as those of the hardwood trees in old Europe. The Wilbert family
began in the hardwood timber industry in Germany well over a
hundred years ago in the region around the Black Forest. Our
ancestors sawed the timber into lumber and from it built houses
and manufactured cabinets, furniture and probably beer kegs as
well.
In the 1850s, the first Wilbert family members
arrived in southern Louisiana and settled along the Mississippi
River in
Iberville
parish. There my father's great-grandfather and his sons set
up sawmills, a planning mill and a shingle factory, all of
which took advantage of the enormous Ash, Cypress, Gum, and Cottonwood
trees which grew along the river.
My father, Joseph P. Wilbert,
came to Dallas in the late 1930s as a lumber salesman for P.H.
Davidson Lumber Company. His
career in lumber sales was interrupted by World War II, but
afterward
he returned to Dallas with $5,000 won in a dice game on a
troop ship (true story!), and that money was used as the initial
capital for Central Lumber Company, which opened for business
in February
1946.
For a family-owned and operated company like
ours, it is especially rewarding when a member of the third generation
decides to
join the company. We at Central Hardwoods are doubly blessed.
Both
of my sons are making their contribution to the future
success
of our company. Peter Wilbert is our Director of Manufacturing
and Ted Wilbert is our Director of Human Resources.
Central
Hardwoods has had its share of successes because we've tried
to maintain the highest possible standards
and stay very
close to our core businesses. The good fortune we have
had is the result of having great people, great suppliers
and
products, and most importantly, great customers.
This is our heritage and
our legacy. We are thankful for your continued loyalty and
patronage and look forward to an enduring
relationship for years to come.
Sincerely,

Joseph P. Wilbert, Jr.