All timeline stories.
In 2009, a forest fire threatened the mill. Gorman Bros. employees joined firefighters in the battle against the fire – volunteering their time and effort. Though the fire raged across the hill where the mill is situated and even jumped the highway to continue its destructive path down to the lake, the mill was saved.
John Gorman retired in 1996, passing on his responsibilities to Bill Reedy. At the same time, Ross Gorman turned his responsibilities over to Ron Gorman. John was 79 – long past official retirement age but even at this point said, “I’m not the kind of guy that can quit completely… I loved my work and I learned a lot.”
In 1999, the company decided to focus on the finished quality of the lumber. They created a 60,000 square foot lumber storage facility to keep the lumber dry until it was wrapped and ready to be shipped. The new Waco Molder replaced the old planer making Gorman Bros. the first to use a moulder to create boards with a furniture finish edge. The result of the “pursuit for excellence” is proving to be long term satisfied distributers that feel like family.
On November 21, 1969, disaster struck when an electrical short caused a huge fire that destroyed the mill. Employees and townspeople helped the firefighters battle the fire throughout the night but all they could do was reduce the flame. They saved the planer mill, the dry kiln and offices but had to let the sawmill go. “In the space of about two hours, 18 years of expansion had been destroyed by fire. I’m sure it would have meant the end for many people faced with the same situation, but Johnny and Ross had the strength and determination to carry on. I have been thanking them every day since.” Bobby Johnson (1976)
In 1953, the brothers decided to set up a small sawmill. “The first one was at Dobbin Mountain behind Glenrosa. We operated there for approximately two years and then moved from there to another camp behind Last Mountain, near the present day Crystal Mountain ski hill. The logging was done by horse. We stayed at camp because at that time it was too far to drive back and forth. There was no such thing as four wheel drive and the roads weren’t snow plowed as they are today.” ~ Ross Gorman
Gorman Bros. Lumber did not begin with a complicated business plan but an informal chat between John and Ross Gorman. One windy winter evening, John went to Ross’ house to have his hair cut. The brothers’ visit during this time brought the unexpected results that we appreciate today.