Serving Frankfort for 100 Years..
LYONS FAMILY OF STORES
History of Lyons Lumber
History of Lyons Lumber
The Story Behind Lyons Lumber
Lyons Lumber was opened in 1909 by Greene Lyons and his mother America Lyons. Mr. Lyons was a fifth generation Kentuckian and completed a business course in 1906 at Indiana's Valparaiso University. He was employed by Capital Lumber and Manufacturing Company in Frankfort. Greene Lyons took the experience he gained there, along with the capital investment of his mother, and began Lyons Lumber Company.
Frankfort was a big sawmill town in the late 1800's. Between 8-9 mills competed for business. Most of the lumber companies were located along the Kentucky River to be able get logs floating down from eastern Kentucky. Lyons has been located in a few buildings but always around the Holmes street area to be nearer to the railroad. Today, you can see the railroad tracks running into the warehouses in the lumber yard. Mr. Lyons was said to be a brilliant man, able to accurately estimate how much it would cost to build something, on the spot, without a calculator.
Lyons Lumber was passed down from Greene Lyons to his daughter Vera Stevenson. Her son Burton Stevenson later inherited the business and ran it very successfully as President for over 46 years. Burt started working at Lyons Lumber at a young age and learned the values of hard work, honesty and fair treatment which he practiced in his business and personal life. His love of wood and building structures provided enjoyment, achievement and reward for Burt. Many customers today still talk about his kindness.
Gregg and Scott Stevenson, Burt's sons, worked hard in the stores from the time they were young children and in 2008, Lyons Lumber company was passed down to them. They are the 4th generation to run the company.
Lyons Lumber has survived economic downturns, a massive store fire and competition from big box stores but overcame all obstacles to be your hometown lumber and hardware stores in Frankfort, Kentucky. A 1969 newspaper article described Lyons Lumber as having "Fair deals and good service" and still holds those values today.
