Bridgewater Lumber: Company History

In 1938, brothers Jake, Ruben, and Edwin Finkbeiner, along with their cousin David Wahl, purchased Bridgewater Lumber Co. from the Pardee brothers of Clinton. Ruben and David were building partners in the Bridgewater area. Jake and Edwin worked for the Pardees in the lumber company.

After a few years, Jake Finkbeiner left the business, and Dave Wahl passed away in the 1960s. Ruben and Edwin followed in death in the early 1990s.

In the mid-1950s, Ron Finkbeiner, Ruben’s son, graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in residential building, then joined Bridgwater Lumber’s construction division. Ron became vice president of the firm in the 1960s, then president in the 1970s.

In the early 1960s, Gary Finkbeiner, son of Edwin, came on board the company after graduating from Jackson Community College. He became vice president and general manager of Bridgewater Lumber in the late 1970s.

Bridgewater Lumber acquired Saline Mercantile in 1968, and in doing so, established a second store. In 1975, Bridgewater Lumber suffered the loss of a barn in a warehouse fire. The original store was then demolished, and a new store was built near the site.

In 1980, the Saline store moved to its current location on Michigan Avenue. A fire in November 1993 destroyed the store and part of an adjoining warehouse. A new Saline store was built on the same site the following year, along with a new barn out back. In 1998, the Saline store added 2,000 sq. ft. for doors, windows, and moldings.