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 JC Penney.
• A postage stamp cost 3 cents
• Gasoline sold for 15 cents
• Average new car cost $1,290.
• Life expectancy was 62.9 years.

1949

• “Profits small, business great” owner says "That’s the way we operate. "
• Suddenly, Roy Aggeler contracts polio and thinks “There goes the company.”
• Roy is a religious man and his prayers are answered, and 6 months later business is 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 sells for 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

1964 –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 6 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 cancer 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 sell for 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

• “We will never forget” – The World Trade Centers are hit by jet airliners.
• Tiger Woods wins the U.S. Open
• Average income is $42,343.00
• “Get the Party Started” by Pink – favorite song
• The stock market takes a hit so hard many people say it may never recover.
• Gas is now $1.46 per gallon
• A new home across the nation average is $136,120.00.
• George W. Bush is sworn in as 43^rd president

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!

2008

• Business still good. Great employees and even better customers.
• Not as many deliveries. Sold a few trucks, but those in service are still racking up miles.
• Customers worried about economy, but still needing building materials.
• Most commodity items still cheaper that the "big box stores".
• Gas moves from $2 to $4 then back to $2. What a rollercoaster!
• Barack Obama elected president. Change is a good thing in our book!
• Mike Aggeler retires as president of John's Lumber.

2009

• Paul Aggeler takes over as President of John's Lumber.
• National and local economy is a wreck.
• Auto industry in trouble, but Detroit is fighting back.
• Hangin' on and hoping for the best.

2010

• Verlander resigns with the Tigers
• Granderson traded to Yankees (boo-hoo)
• Economy showing a sign of life
• Austin Jackson does GREAT in center field (sorry Curtis, the Yankees suck).
• Detroit Lions show a sign of life (We'll see! AGAIN)
• We are still here, while most of our competitors are gone, thanks to our great employees.
• We have the best customers in the world. Loyal, smart, understanding, and knowledgable. Please pray for our country.

2011

• Verlander resigns with the Tiger.
• Gas hits $4 gallon.
• We finally got Osama Bin Laden 5-1-11.