Our Story
About Us
We serve Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio with full-service lumber yards, truss manufacturing, delivery fleets, and local experts who help you stay on schedule.
Celebrating 105 years of serving our communities, Big C Lumber is in its eleventh decade of existence and is a fifth-generation family-owned company. Serving do-it-yourselfers/homeowners, professional home builders and remodelers, and commercial contractors, Big C Lumber was started in 1921 by William Hass – who in partnership with George Bales purchased a lumberyard in North Liberty, Indiana. Acquisition of approximately ten additional lumberyards quickly followed, including the present yards in Roseland (South Bend) Indiana, and Three Oaks, Michigan. In 1926 these yards were incorporated and a few years later, circa 1935, William Hass acquired George Bales’ interests. The period from 1935 to 1945 was one of diversification during which time Hass Wholesale, Hass Concrete, and Portage Realty were founded. Shortly thereafter a long process of consolidation began, lasting through 1981, involving the liquidation, sale, or divesting of interest in most of the lumberyards and other various holdings.
Following the death of William Hass in 1956, sons Ralph and Paul, daughter Gladys, and her husband William Foley took over the ownership and management control of the businesses. This lasted until 1968 when the businesses were spun off into three separate organizations with Ralph Hass taking over Hass Wholesale and Hass Concrete, Paul Hass taking over Portage Realty, and the Foleys taking over the Big C yards. Shortly thereafter Roger and Tom Foley, sons of William and Gladys, joined the Big C organization. In 1982 Roger Foley took over the management and controlling interest. The name Big C Cashway, later shortened to Big C, was coined in 1967 and applied to four lumberyards, two of which were liquidated in 1981. Big C Lumber Co. Inc. became the official corporate name in 1984.
Beginning in 1985, the company embarked on an acquisition program. There are now a total of 16 Big C Lumber retail lumberyards. In addition to the original lumberyards in Roseland (South Bend) Indiana, and Three Oaks, Michigan, there are eight other Indiana locations: Granger, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Cromwell, LaPorte, Shipshewana, Kendallville, and Fort Wayne. In addition to Three Oaks, we have five other locations in Michigan: Eau Claire, Schoolcraft, Coloma, Adrian. and Delton. In February of 2012, we opened our first Ohio lumber yard in the town of Edgerton. Big C Lumber also operates three manufacturing facilities; a Structural Building Components Facility which designs and manufactures floor trusses, wall panels, and roof trusses; a full-service Custom Millwork & Cabinet Facility, and a Window & Door Facility. The Granger facility, which houses the administrative offices, focuses on professional contractors but also welcomes do-it-yourselfers. This location also serves as a distribution center for the other lumber yards.
Present management includes Roger Foley, Chairman Emeritus, Bill Wallace, President & CEO, Bridget Brady, CFO & Co-Chairman, Nick Brady, Co-Chairman, Bill Kuminecz, Vice President of Purchasing, Ben Chambers, Vice President of Operations – Eastern Region, Ted Zebell, Vice President of Operations – Western Region, and Scott Foley, Vice President of Sales.
Timeline
Over a century of growth
Each milestone shows how our teams, facilities, and communities have evolved while honoring the promise that started in 1921.
1921
Big C Lumber
William H. Hass and George Bales open a lumberyard in Westville, IN in addition to their lumberyard in North Liberty, IN. With equal ownership between them, this marks the start of the Big C Lumber story.
1923
Three Oaks, MI Yard Acquired
A lumberyard in Three Oaks, MI is acquired, originally built by Dwight Warren.
1928
South Bend HQ Established
Hass moves to South Bend, IN, and into the newly constructed Belleville Lumber, which becomes the main headquarters.
1928
Roseland, IN Yard Acquired
A lumberyard in Roseland, IN is acquired, forming part of the Niles Lumber Company.
1921-1928
Expansion
Other lumberyards were acquired in Lydick, New Carlisle, Lakeville, and other locations.
1939
Hass Wholesale Formed
Hass Wholesale is formed to supply lumber and materials to Hass’s lumberyards. This/these companies were spun off in 1968.
1941
Portage Realty Formed
Portage Realty is formed to manage the lots acquired from contractors. This/these companies were spun off in 1968.
1941-45
Hass Millwork and Hass Concrete Formed
Hass Millwork is formed as part of Hass Wholesale, and Hass Concrete is also formed. This/these companies were spun off in 1968.
1943
Marshall County Lumber Acquired
Hass acquires Marshall County Lumber in Culver, IN, and a ready-mix concrete company.
1944
Majority Ownership
William Hass attains majority ownership of Hass Wholesale and its related companies.
1946-55
Belleville Lumber Relocation
Belleville Lumber relocates to downtown South Bend, now where the Century Center parking lot is.
1950
North Liberty Machinery Company Opens
Hass opens North Liberty Machinery Company, later traded for Western Avenue Lumber Company.
1967
Big C Cashway Name Introduced
The "Big C Cashway" name is first used, allowing customers to pay cash and pick up lumber themselves.
1968
Marshall County Lumber Sold
Operation assets of Marshall County Lumber Company are sold, forming Princess Management Services.
1972
Princess Builders Founded
Princess Builders was founded, focusing on pre-fab houses, operating until 1976.
1974
Triangle Truss Founded
Triangle Truss was founded at the site of the current Granger location, lasting until 1976.
1981
Locations Liquidated
The North Liberty and Westville locations were liquidated, leaving only the Roseland and Three Oaks locations.
1981
First Computer System Installed
The first computer system is installed at the Roseland location.
1985
Elkhart Location
Elkhart location purchased from Bill's Lumber.
1986
Window & Door Shop
Initially located in Three Oaks, later moved to Granger at the beginning of 1994 and moved again to Mishawaka at the end of 1994.
1987
Kitchen Department
Opening of our first Kitchen Department in Roseland, Indiana.
1989
Indianapolis Yard Acquired
A lumberyard in Indianapolis, IN is acquired, expanding the company's reach. Later closing in 1991.
1990
McKinley Lumber Acquired
McKinley Lumber in Mishawaka, IN is acquired, further strengthening the company's presence in Indiana.
1992
Home Lumber Acquired
Home Lumber in Goshen, IN is acquired, expanding the company's operations in Indiana. Later closing in 1998.
1993
Karch Lumber Acquired
Karch Lumber in Middlebury, IN is acquired, continuing the company's expansion in the region. Later closing the property in 2006.
1993
Millwork Shop Established
Millwork shop opened in Granger, Indiana.
1994
Triangle Truss Purchased
Triangle Truss facility purchased, becoming the Big C Lumber Building Components division.
1997
LaPorte Yard Acquired
LaPorte yard purchased from LaPorte Lumber Company.
1998
Eau Claire Yard Purchased
Eau Claire yard purchased from Harris Lumber.
1998
Granger Remodel
Granger yard receives a face-lift with new displays and signage.
1999
South Bend Renovation
South Bend yard receives a face-lift and remodel.
2001
Hipskind Building Supply Acquired
Hipskind Building Supply in Coloma, MI is acquired, expanding the company's reach in Michigan.
2004
Broadview Lumber Acquired
Broadview Lumber is acquired, adding yards in Kendallville, IN, Fort Wayne, IN, and Auburn, IN, marking the company's biggest acquisition to date.
2005
Koppenhofer Lumber Acquired
Koppenhofer Lumber in Grovertown, IN is acquired, continuing the company's expansion. This property was then sold in 2007.
2006
Michiana Truss Acquired
Michiana Truss in Dowagiac, MI is acquired, enhancing the company's product offerings.
2012
Lutterbein Lumber Acquired
Lutterbein Lumber in Edgerton, OH is acquired, expanding the company's footprint in Ohio. Later closing in 2026.
2015
Stevenson Lumber Acquired
Stevenson Lumber in Adrian, MI is acquired, further expanding operations in Michigan.
2022
Delton Pole Building Company Acquired
Delton Pole Building Company in Delton, MI is acquired, marking the most recent expansion of Big C Lumber.