Brian Lumber

Brian Lumber Company was founded in Sumner Illinois in 1885 by John Brian.  It was first located on the south side of the railroad tracks but was moved to the north side in the early 1900s when it became under the ownership of Fred Brian.  His son John Harvey Brian went into partnership with him in the early 1930s and they opened yards in St Francisville, Lawrenceville, Bridgeport and Flat Rock along with the one in Sumner.

Brian Lumber purchased the Good Pine Lumber Company in Bridgeport in March 1940, and in 1955, the company bought the Ohio Oil Company buildings on Chestnut Street. Gradually all the other yards were closed and in 1978 the original yard in Sumner was shut down leaving only the Brian lumber Company in Bridgeport.  It was purchased in 1975 by John’s son, Fritz, and his wife Sarah.  This yard became affiliated with Hardware Wholesaler’s, Inc in 1976 and incorporated in 1978.  In 1994 it covered approximately one acre and employed 12 full-time employees.