Wilkins Lumber

Wilkins Lumber is a small family-owned business that is located in Milford, NH.
History
Edward (E. L.) Hartshorn built a sawmill on the brook at the bottom of his farm in 1808. Initially, the equipment was run by water-power from Hartshorn Brook, so the mill only operated when the water was high enough to generate power. Later, steam was used as a supplementary power source.
During the Great Depression, Wilkins Lumber barely held on. Then in 1938, a hurricane came that blew down 90 percent of the family's farmed trees. What they could salvage they sold, and what was left was stored by the government in several locations. Going forward, they were able to rebound and continued to sell lumber to many of the local builders.
In 1949, the Mill was struck by lightning, burning everything to the ground. A smaller mill was constructed in replacement. In 1957, the Frank Hartshorn Company was sold to Harold H. Wilkins and his son Harold Hartshorn Wilkins, Jr. They continued to operate under the name of Wilkins & Son. In 1963, Harold Sr. was killed and his son Harold Wilkins Jr. took over. He was soon joined by a nephew, Robert Wilkins. With the partnership, the name changed to Wilkins Lumber Company in 1973.
In 1980, a new mill was built across the street from the original location, away from the stream. In 1981, Harold Wilkins Jr.’s grandson entered the business, Thomas A. Wilkins. Thomas went on to buy out fellow partner Robert Wilkins, and now resides as the sole owner of one of New Hampshire’s oldest mills.
Tom Wilkins lives by the motto, “What we saw is what you get!” Lumber is all native, sold rough or planed. The mill also sells bark mulch (not dyed), woodchips, sawdust and shavings: every piece of the log is utilized.

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