Long-Bell Lumber Company
Encyclopedia
In 1887, Robert A. Long
and Victor Bell formed the Long-Bell Lumber Company in Columbus, Kansas
. The Long-Bell Lumber Company branched out using balanced vertical integration
to control all aspects of lumber from the sawmills to the retail lumber yard. As the company expanded it moved further south and eventually had holdings in Arkansas
, Oklahoma Indian Territory
, and Louisiana
, before heading west to Washington.
The company grew into one of the largest conglomerates of wood products of the era, with holdings in many states and under many subsidiary names, and sold out to International Paper
in 1956.
.
. Texas Naval Stores Company (For turpentine distillery), and Hudson River Lumber Company in DeRidder, Louisiana. Other companies were Portland and Northern Railroad (LP&N), in Longview, Washington
, and R. A. Long Properties, Long’s personal holding company.
The King-Ryder Lumber Company in BonAmi, Louisiana, was the first Long-Bell venture in Louisiana, also owned mills at Thomasville, Indian Territory Oklahoma
, and at Winthrop, Arkansas
,
The company operated The Long Bell Cabinet Division in Longview, WA in the former drying sheds of the lumber mill they operated there for decades. The division manufactured kitchen and bath cabinets marketed in Sears and Mongomery Ward catalog and retail stores as well as through the company's lumber distribution yards. The division occupied approximately 23 acres under roof and the supervisors used bicycles to go between departments. The division was sold in approximately 1981 and eventually the plant was closed. Old-growth timbers from the structural framework of the plant have been recycled into many upscale homes, and a book of photographs has been published by an architect/builder who took a fondness to preserving a bit of history.
.
that began as a plan for an expansion for their collection of horses and carriages. From 1913 to 1914,
Longview Farm was built.. It took 18 months to complete, using Belgian craftsmen and Sicilian stonemasons, among 2,000 other workers employed, to build the Longview Mansion and 50 other farm structures on 1780 acres (7.2 km²). Some of this land was eventually donated to the Longview College
and some was sold and became Longview Lake
.
R. A. Long was active in charities. He built a school and other buildings in Longview, Washington from personal funds, was a founding member and President of the organization to have the Liberty memorial
located in Kansas City, and others.
Robert A. Long
Robert Alexander Long was a lumber baron, developer, investor, newspaper owner, millionaire, and philanthropist. He lived most of his life in Kansas City, Missouri and founded the city of Longview, Washington and the town of Longville, Louisiana....
and Victor Bell formed the Long-Bell Lumber Company in Columbus, Kansas
Columbus, Kansas
Columbus is the second largest city and county seat of Cherokee County, Kansas, United States, 15 miles south-southwest of Pittsburg, Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,312.-History:...
. The Long-Bell Lumber Company branched out using balanced vertical integration
Vertical integration
In microeconomics and management, the term vertical integration describes a style of management control. Vertically integrated companies in a supply chain are united through a common owner. Usually each member of the supply chain produces a different product or service, and the products combine to...
to control all aspects of lumber from the sawmills to the retail lumber yard. As the company expanded it moved further south and eventually had holdings in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Oklahoma Indian Territory
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, and Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, before heading west to Washington.
The company grew into one of the largest conglomerates of wood products of the era, with holdings in many states and under many subsidiary names, and sold out to International Paper
International Paper
International Paper Company is an American pulp and paper company, the largest such company in the world. It has approximately 59,500 employees, and it is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:...
in 1956.
History
Three young men went into the business of selling hay in Columbus, Kansas. A major expense was the lumber to build a wagon to deliver the hay and sheds to store it. They found out that hay was a poor business but that lumber was in high demand. They tore down the sheds and sold the lumber. Robert Alexandria Long, Victor Bell, whose father was president of Kansas City Savings Bank, and Robert White, cousin of Long, whose father was the cashier, started R. A. Long & Company. In a short time a competitor decide to sell out to them and they opened more stores. In 1887 Robert White died and the remaining partners bought his share, incorporated the Long-Bell Lumber Company, and moved the headquarters to Kansas CityKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
.
Subsidiaries
There were company names such as, Long-Bell Farm Land Corporation, Long-Bell Demonstration Farm Company, and Longview Development Company for property in Longview, WashingtonLongview, Washington
Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the "Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area", which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 36,648 at the time of the 2010 census and is the largest city in Cowlitz County...
. Texas Naval Stores Company (For turpentine distillery), and Hudson River Lumber Company in DeRidder, Louisiana. Other companies were Portland and Northern Railroad (LP&N), in Longview, Washington
Longview, Washington
Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the "Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area", which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 36,648 at the time of the 2010 census and is the largest city in Cowlitz County...
, and R. A. Long Properties, Long’s personal holding company.
The King-Ryder Lumber Company in BonAmi, Louisiana, was the first Long-Bell venture in Louisiana, also owned mills at Thomasville, Indian Territory Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, and at Winthrop, Arkansas
Winthrop, Arkansas
Winthrop is a city in Little River County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 186 at the 2000 census. The city was also home of Winthrop Rockefeller's election campaigns.-Geography:Winthrop is located at ....
,
The company operated The Long Bell Cabinet Division in Longview, WA in the former drying sheds of the lumber mill they operated there for decades. The division manufactured kitchen and bath cabinets marketed in Sears and Mongomery Ward catalog and retail stores as well as through the company's lumber distribution yards. The division occupied approximately 23 acres under roof and the supervisors used bicycles to go between departments. The division was sold in approximately 1981 and eventually the plant was closed. Old-growth timbers from the structural framework of the plant have been recycled into many upscale homes, and a book of photographs has been published by an architect/builder who took a fondness to preserving a bit of history.
Sawmills in Louisiana
Some of the sawmills in Louisiana and their year of startup were: Bon Ami, (King-Ryder Lumber Company) in 1902, DeRidder (Hudson River Lumber Company) in 1903, Merryville in 1904, Carson in 1904/05, Longville (reportedly the largest in Louisiana) in 1906/07, Ragley in 1907, Ludington in 1911, plus smaller mills.Kansas City, Missouri
In 1907 Long-Bell built the first "skyscraper" in Kansas City, named the R.A. Long Building, for the company corporate headquarters. At 16 stories tall, costing a reported 14 million dollars. The building was bought in 1940 by City National Bank & Trust CompanyUMB Financial Corporation
UMB Financial Corporation is an American financial services company based in Kansas City, Missouri with operations in seven, mostly Midwestern, states. The company owns commercial banks, a brokerage company, a community development corporation, a consulting company, a mutual fund servicing...
.
The Longs
The Long's built a mansion called Corintian HallKansas City Museum
The Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall is a small museum in the historic Northeast Neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Also known as the R.A...
that began as a plan for an expansion for their collection of horses and carriages. From 1913 to 1914,
Longview Farm was built.. It took 18 months to complete, using Belgian craftsmen and Sicilian stonemasons, among 2,000 other workers employed, to build the Longview Mansion and 50 other farm structures on 1780 acres (7.2 km²). Some of this land was eventually donated to the Longview College
Metropolitan Community College (Kansas City)
Metropolitan Community College is a community college system in Missouri, United States. The system consists of five separate campuses located in Kansas City, Independence, and Lee's Summit. The five campuses have a total enrollment of over 21,000 students per semester...
and some was sold and became Longview Lake
Longview Lake
Longview Lake is a freshwater reservoir in parts of Kansas City, Lee's Summit, and Grandview, all in Jackson County, Missouri. The reservoir is part of U.S...
.
R. A. Long was active in charities. He built a school and other buildings in Longview, Washington from personal funds, was a founding member and President of the organization to have the Liberty memorial
Liberty Memorial
The Liberty Memorial, located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, is a memorial to the fallen soldiers of World War I and houses the The National World War I Museum, as designated by the United States Congress in 2004.. Groundbreaking commenced November 1, 1921, and the city held a site dedication...
located in Kansas City, and others.
Related articles to R.A. Long
- Longview LakeLongview LakeLongview Lake is a freshwater reservoir in parts of Kansas City, Lee's Summit, and Grandview, all in Jackson County, Missouri. The reservoir is part of U.S...
- R. A. Long High SchoolR. A. Long High SchoolR. A. Long High School is the oldest high school servicing the city of Longview, Washington. It was erected in 1927, three years after the city of Longview was incorporated. The total student enrollment at the end of the 2005-06 school year was 1017. The school is named for the city's founder,...
- Longview, WashingtonLongview, WashingtonLongview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the "Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area", which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 36,648 at the time of the 2010 census and is the largest city in Cowlitz County...
External sources
- http://www.longviewfoundation.org/ralong.htm
- Grabow Incident Bibliography
- "Leather Britches" Smith and the Grabow Riot
- http://library.beau.org/history/ -1912 -Deridder houses from the sawmill days.
- Union Workers in jail - Picture!