Bridgewater Lumber Company

Chelsea Lumber Company’s predecessors began business in 1908. On January 2, 1926, the Bacon/Holmes Lumber Company and the Chelsea Elevator Company merged to form the Chelsea Lumber, Grain & Coal Company located at 305 North Main St. in Chelsea. Frank Storms and his son-in-law, Warren R. Daniels, were officers of the new company. Warren Daniels’ sons would soon follow him into the business.

In 1952, James Daniels, who was then President of the company, added a new showroom and shortened the name of the company to Chelsea Lumber Company. In 1967, James Daniels retired from active involvement in the business and his younger brother, Robert, was named President. Changing market dynamics saw the company focus on building products at this time. Coal and wheat were no longer part of the business.

On February 16, 1983, Chelsea Lumber Company moved to its current location near I-94 and the old property was sold to the Chelsea Milling Company. Over the next 25 years, Chelsea Lumber would greatly expand the warehouse and showroom space making it one of the largest independent home centers in Michigan.

The company reinforced its optimism in SE Michigan’s future by purchasing Bridgewater Lumber on February 1st, 2007. Doing so gave the company a total of three locations in SE Michigan. In the summer of 2009, the Bridgewater Lumber name was retired and all three stores were branded under the Chelsea Lumber name. Currently, Chelsea Lumber's ownership consists of John Daniels, Dick McCalla, Dennis Bauer, Chad Christoffer and Shawn Stevens. Moving forward, Chelsea Lumber Company continues to grow and invest in its future.