Page 18 - Mar-Apr2019

"You tell us what meat cutters, welders, horse groomers

dawn of a and hot tub installers have in common!"

new era

for powassan

businesses

Lumber and hardware merge
in closing of Powassan Building
Centre

by Laurel J. Campbell, a freelance journalist based in North Bay

fter 40 years of being immersed in colour trends,” she said. “A previous sales It was his idea for the couple to consider
Alumber and paint and all the nuts and rep for a supplier who thought working here retirement.
bolts that are involved in construction, would be a semi-retirement left when he “When people asked Danny when he was
Debbie Piper is retiring, and closing the door realized how much knowledge was needed going to retire, he would tell them as soon
on Powassan Building Centre on Feb. 25. to do this job. It’s a lot harder than he ever as possible” Piper said, “but I really didn’t
She admits it’s an emotional decision. thought it would be.” think I was ready.”
“I spent a lot more time here, at the Piper said she and her staff are always But when she received a call from
building centre, than anywhere else,” she called on to go a step beyond just supplying Powassan Home Hardware owner Tom
said. “Emotionally it was a hard decision. materials. Morrow asking if she was considering
I’m happy, I’m sad, I’m excited, I’m anxious, “As a retailer you’re not supposed to tell selling, Piper realized it was time to take a
full of conflicting emotions. This is my baby people what they need to build their house. serious look at the future.
and it’s like putting a child up for adoption. They bring you plans and a material list and “Tom put an offer on the table, and when
You know it’s the right thing to do, but it still we price it out,” she said. “What actually you’re a small player in a small business
makes you sad.” happens in a lot of cases is they come in in northern Ontario, there are not a lot of
The lumberyard was opened by Elwood and draw you a design on a little scrap people who want to buy your business,” she
Moore in 1963 and was purchased by Piper’s of paper and then ask you how much it’s said
parents, Hector and Lois Joron in 1979. For going to cost to build that shed or deck, or “Maybe I could have stayed for a couple
several years Piper and her husband, Danny, sometimes a whole house.” of years, but then there may not have been
worked with her parents. Piper’s extensive knowledge of the anyone interested in the business. I’m
In 1991 Piper took over ownership of industry also saw her forge new ground for not saying this is retirement, but I have no
the business and changed the name to other women in the business, as the first future plans at this time.”
Powassan Building Centre as a member of female on the Castle’s board of directors Tom Morrow and his partner, his son
the national Castle buying group. and the first woman in the chairman’s seat. Mike, do have plans for the future.
“Over the years the product lines have “I’ve been getting emails from women “It has always been my dad’s dream to
expanded to cover every material you would saying that I’ve been a leader for them,” own a lumber centre. Since he was in Beaver
need to build, repair or renovate a home. she said. ”When I go to meetings now there Lumber for over 30 years he does have
There wasn’t even pressure-treated lumber are more and more women, and often in a experience in the lumber industry and he is
when I started,” Piper recalls. husband-wife partnership, it’s the woman just so excited about this expansion,” Mike
Changes in building styles and codes has who is managing the business.” Morrow said.
meant the past 30 years have been a steady Danny Piper has been the business’s The Morrows have purchased the assets
learning experience for Piper and her staff. full-time yard supervisor for the past 15 and inventory of the building centre and will
“You have to know paint, building codes, years and was instrumental in expanding be renting the Memorial Park Drive property
nuts and bolts, docks, design elements, into equipment rental and dock building. “for about four years, with the anticipation

18 LBMAO Reporter - March-April 2019 www.lbmao.on.ca