HISTORY

In 1795, two brothers, Jonathan and Andrew Curtiss, came from Connecticut and settled in Ballston Center. Around 1822, Jonathan’s son, Captian Isaac Henry Curtiss, built the first sawmill on the Mourningkill Creek behind the former location on Charlton Road. In 1865 the property was sold to Robert O. Davis, who sold it to James Morehouse, buy by 1890 the property was bin the Curtis family, when Elmer A Curtis purchased it. (Note that Curtis is now spelled with one S, Elmer dropped the second “s” when someone told him it was a waste of time!) Elmer built a dam and a new sawmill, which was run by water power, and had a grist mill attached. In 1910 the sawmill was destroyed by fire, but a new one was rebuilt, so the lumber and feed business was carried on. That building and the water wheel are still at the creek on the Charlton Road location. After the death of Elmer and his wife, Mary, the property and business became an estate and willed to the five living Children-Henry Isaac Curtis, Sibyl Curtis Bates, Arthur Larkin Curtis, Kent Carlton Curtis, and Elizabeth Curtis Watkins.

Kent C Curtis, who had learned the business and shared in the operation of it prior to his fathers death continued to carry on the business, and around 1938 purchased it from the rest of the heirs. He continued the operation of it for about 10 years, when due to ill health, he turned it over to his son, Robert K Curtis.

The business was incorporated on March 7, 1949, and the name established was Curtis Lumber Co., Inc. In 1952, a new office was built at the time there were 9 employees. In 1955, the dam in the creek was destroyed by high water, but on the positive side, anew store was built and the number of employees grew to 11! A few years later a truss fabrication plant was added as a service for contractor business. A 60 x 100 foot retail store was built on Charlton Road, and we entered the hardware facet of the business after purchasing the stock and furnishings of a Castleton, NY hardware store.

The land at the Curtis Industrial Park on Rt, 67 was purchased on October 12, 1968, and that winter the Company put in the railroad siding and the Company’s first building. Clearing land for the new sawmill started in March 1972. and a year later the first logs were run. A planer mill was started in 1973.

A new retail store, which was one of the largest in the area at the time, covering 1 acre under roof, was constructed in the Industrial Park. On December 22, 1976, Curtis Lumber Co., Inc. moved from Charlton Road to it’s new location, 885 Rt 67, Ballston Spa, NY.

Growth within the Industrial Park continued. The warehouse adjacent to the store was opened up to become part of the store, thus enabling dimension lumber and plywood to be displayed for customers so these items could be purchased on a cash and carry basis. A kiln was installed allowing us to kiln-dry the lumber manufactured in the sawmill. The sawmill operation was shut down following two fires in the early 1980’s.

On January 1, 1992, Robert K Curtis and his son Jay Scott Curtis, split the business. Jay Scott Curtis became the owner of Curtis Lumber Co., Inc and Robert K Curtis took the wholesale portion of the business and Truss Shop, forming Saratoga Lumber Traders, Inc. In 2003, Robert’s second son Todd A Curtis became President, and continues to run the business. Since Todd has become President, the company has evolved into the 21st century by bringing in modern technology, which has increased productivity and sales within the office as well as the truss plant.

Saratoga Lumber Traders, Inc. strives to maintain the integrity of a family owned and operated business that the Curtis Family began in 1822. Quality products and customer satisfaction remains our number one priority. We look forward to serving your needs.