History of Bernard Building Center, Inc.

Berk and Beatty Bernard started a new business in 1958 under the name of Bernard Woodworking. A 20' x 40' shop was built right next to their home for the manufacture of wood windows. Berk was the only employee and Beatty kept the books, helping with deliveries when needed.

Several additions were built as the business grew during the next few years. In 1965 the shop was moved from the original site to a lot just north of their home. In 1966 another addition and a display room were added, making space for a steadily expanding line of building products.

In 1969, the Hale Lumber Company, located one half mile south of Hale, was purchased and became Bernard Lumber Company. The window business was continued for several years at the original location as a sideline. It was eventually closed due to the complications of maintaining two separate business locations.

As Bernard Lumber Company grew and new outbuildings were added, space became limited at the new location. The owners then began a move back to the Bernard Woodworking location where additional property had been purchased.

Six storage sheds were built in 1972 and the entire business was moved there in 1977 after the completion of a new store and two large storage buildings.  The corporation's name was changed to Bernard Building Center, Inc. in 1984. The new name more accurately described the business, which had gradually become a home center, with a complete line of building materials.

Several outbuildings were added in the following years and a large addition to the store was built in 1988.

The addition allowed space to broaden the existing product lines and put in a large kitchen and bath center.

In 1991, Beatty turned her responsibilities over to son Bryon and became semi-retired from the business although she still served in an advisory capacity for a short time. More outbuildings were built during this time to house more inventory.
 

1993 saw Berk follow Beatty's lead and turn his responsibilities over to son Bruce, allowing Berk to also slip into semi-retirement while still serving as an advisor.

Berk and Beatty's third son Daryn moved from inside sales to the hardware buyers position and from this point forward, Bryon, Bruce, and Daryn took over the business Berk and Beatty had started some 35 years earlier.

A 16,000 square foot warehouse was constructed in 1994 to store more inventory. In 1996, construction was started on a new 4,000 square foot storefront. The construction was barely completed in the spring of 1997 when the Heinrich Lumber Co. in Au Gres, Michigan was purchased and became our second location. A new lumber storage building was built at the Au Gres store in 1998 and a vehicle maintenance garage was finished in 2001 at the Hale location.
 

On April 25, 2005, Beatty died after a long battle with cancer. She is greatly missed by all who knew her and especially those who worked with her at Bernard’s.