5825 EXCELSIOR BLVD.

This spot by the railroad tracks, across from present-day Bunny’s, is most remembered as a lumberyard, although apparently it had earlier been a car repair shop. In about 1932, Ted Dietrick reports that it had been a car repair garage. Ted described it as a cement block building with a small office and a garage area with a pit in the floor for oil changes.

The Canfield-Dietrick Lumber Company was established by Perry Canfield, a purported millionaire, who took on Russell Dietrick to establish a cash and carry lumberyard. Despite the city's initial refusal to grant a building permit, resulting in the dramatic dinnertime arrest of Dietrick, he prevailed in court (Village Council minutes note on March 2, 1932, the Canfield-Dietrick litigation was settled). Canfield withdrew in 1946 and it became the Dietrick Lumber Company, which continued until 1954.

At some point Canfield's nephew set up a business at the site, which Canfield still owned.

In 1956-61, the site housed Johnson Cashway Lumber Yard, the northwest’s first complete self-service lumber store (advertising Zonolite at $1.25/bag). The first Johnson Cashway store was opened in 1931 in Nebraska by Lawrence W. Johnson. The local manager was Bill Stanfill.

In the ‘60’s (at least 1964-66) the site was rented to the Har-Ned Lumber Company. The original buildings were leveled sometime after 1968.

Fred G. Anderson built his complex at the site in 1980 and it has changed hands since.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.