Photo by Adam Vogler
Clarence and Dorothy Schmidt are retiring and closing the doors of Olpe Lumber Co. after 47 years of ownership.
OLPE
Clarence and Dorothy Schmidt, who have run the Olpe Lumber Co. for 47 years, have decided it’s time to retire.
Olpe Lumber Co., 205 Westphalia, will go on the auction block at 8 a.m. Nov. 1 at the lumber company, and the Schmidts hope someone will buy it and keep it open.
For many Olpe residents, the thought of losing their local lumberyard is a somber one. Leon Brown of Olpe said it would be a tough loss.
“A lot of times you just need some bolts,” Brown said. “I’d have to run almost 14 miles to Emporia.”
Larry Haag and Marvin Klumpe agreed, as the three sat at Murphy Oil in Olpe over morning coffee Thursday. The three talked about the Schmidts’ customer service, which at times includes delivering wood to a customer’s door. The three also talked about the homes in Olpe and how many of them were built with wood and materials from the lumber company.
In the early 1900s, the company was owned by Harvey Bradfield. Bradfield died in 1956. His son, Jim Bradfield, took the business over and hired Clarence Schmidt as his right-hand man and Marge Alan as secretary. In 1961, Clarence and Dorothy Schmidt, parents of six children, bought and took over the company. Alan continued to work as secretary of the business and Dorothy Schmidt assisted. When Alan retired, Dorothy Schmidt ran the office.
Clarence Schmidt began building homes after purchasing the Olpe Lumber Co. and did his own concrete and carpentry work. Building homes was a family affair and after the lumber yard was closed for the day, Dorothy Schmidt would paint, stain and varnish.
The Schmidts’ six children grew up around the lumberyard. Their children are: Deanna Burton of Emporia; Judy Andersen of Iowa; Doug Schmidt of Olpe; Charlotte Coble of Olpe; Jeffery Schmidt of Emporia; and Glen Schmidt of Olpe. Clarence and Dorothy Schmidt now have 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
“Clarence and the three sons kept busy building houses in Olpe, Emporia and the surrounding towns as far out as Cottonwood Falls,” according to a letter provided by the family. “The building was doing well and needed more space so they purchased the Panhandle Eastern Pipeline building on the east side of the lumber company.”
Clarence Schmidt retired from building in 1997, when he was 69. Two of his sons continued with construction businesses.
“Doug along with his brother Jeff and other co-workers and Glen and his co-workers continue down their father’s well-established path as they continue to build homes in Olpe, Emporia and the surrounding area,” the letter stated.
Doug Schmidt started Doug Schmidt Construction LLC, which serves a 50-mile radius. His sons also are in construction work.
The Schmidts are known for their small-town customer service. The Schmidts would make after-hours calls when customers needed paint or other supplies — something the Schmidts spoke of with pride this week.
“There’s a lot of customers who come in for just one screw,” Dorothy Schmidt said.
The Schmidts’ contribution to the Olpe community didn’t stop with the lumber company. Clarence Schmidt served as a city council member for 13 years and was instrumental in construction of the Olpe City Lake and water and sewer service to the city. Both have been active in the St. Joseph Church and school and served on various committees there. They have organized community fundraisers and were active in the Bluestem Swingers square dancers.
“This all in addition to running a lumber yard from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 8-12 on Saturdays and pursuing their gardening and craft hobbies,” the family’s letter stated.
Laurie Schmidt said Clarence and Dorothy Schmidt are very dedicated.
“They key to their success over the years has been their hard work and their honesty and fairness with which they have treated their customers. ...” Laurie Schmidt said. “Clarence and Dorothy have for many years had a crafting hobby and produced many treasures and keepsakes for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
The Schmidts decided this year that it was time to retire. Clarence Schmidt started dialysis right before Christmas.
“We want to enjoy some life at home,” Dorothy Schmidt said.
There’s a lot about the business the couple will miss.
“I will miss the customers,” Schmidt said. “I will miss working in a way. It’s a way of life.”
Clarence Schmidt said he enjoyed waiting on people and solving people’s problems.
The Schmidts hope whoever buys the business at auction keeps it open. The auction includes the real estate and contents.
“We hope that someone will please take this and keep it at least as a hardware business,” Dorothy Schmidt said. “Because Olpe is going to need it.”
Schmidt wanted to thank the customers they’ve had through the years.
“It’s not just the Olpe area,” she said. “It’s people from other towns.”
Comments
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Posted by gardenman (anonymous) on October 2, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For clarification purposes, Doug Schmidt went to work with his
father-in-law Loren Farr, Farr Construction, along with long
time builder Howard Thomas in 1981 and continued working
with them until Mr. Farr's death in 1988 . Apparently his
father did not have need of his talents at the time, and though
he may have provided a well established path for Doug, it was
Loren Farr who led him down that path.
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