Patrick Lumber Co. Acquires Portions Of Mary’s River Lumber In Oregon

Portland-based Patrick Lumber Co. announced Wednesday it has acquired a portion of Mary’s River Lumber Co., in Philomath. The acquisition includes 8 acres that encompasses five dry kilns and the reman plant.

“The Philomath operation will begin by processing primarily high-grade Douglas fir and hemlock lumber creating an opportunity for a dozen employees with plans for expansion,” according to a Patrick Lumber press release. The company said McCool Millworks, based in Sweet Home, will head operations.

Established in 1915, Patrick Lumber Co., describes itself as “a secondary manufacturer and exporter of niche high-grade softwood products sold to a network of worldwide distribution.” The Philomath acquisition is expected to add approximately 20 percent to Patrick Lumber’s processing capacity.

Mary’s River Lumber, which had 80 workers at a cedar sawmill in Philomath and a finishing plant in Corvallis, stopped operating in March 2016 after 42 years. An “extreme shortage of (cedar) logs” primarily due to harvest restrictions in public forests was cited by the company as a reason for the closure.

Mary’s River Lumber plants were also closed in Washington state, including Montesano. In December, Fox Lumber Co., of Hamilton, Montana, closed a deal to acquire buildings and equipment of a finishing mill operation while leasing land from the city, reported the Vidette, a Montesano newspaper.

From The Philomath Express: gazettetimes.com.