1

Atllas Lumber with a view of the yard
Mid 1900's
Bentley, Alberta


Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

2

View of Atlas Lumber and the Atlas Lumber House
Mid 1900's
Bentley, Alberta


Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

3

Drawing of Atlas Lumber
1940
Bentley, Alberta


Credits:
Norva Landry
Bentley Museum Society

4

ATLAS LUMBER COMPANY LIMITED

The Sam Smith Lumber Yard seems to have been the first lumber establishment here. In 1919, the Atlas Lumber Company bought out the Smith Lumber Company. Robert Stewart (Bob) was manager from 1919 to 1930, and in 1931, Claud Summers became manager. Mr. Plouffe took over after Mr. Summers retired in 1968.

Lumber came from local sawmills. Lumber prices fell in the late 1920's and 1930's. Rough lumber sold for approximately $10.00 per thousand board feet and planed lumber $12.00 to $15.00 per thousand board feet. In 1946, #1 cedar shingles sold at $5.25 for four bales or 100 square feet. At the same time birch hardwood flooring (thin type) sold for approximately 13 cents a square foot. In 1950 a spruce board 2 inches by 4 inches and 8 feet long sold for 22 cents.

The manager's house was situated on the east side of the lumberyard. Over the years many changes and improvements were made to the yard. When the Revelstoke Company bought out Atlas Lumber, the agent's house was moved uptown and the Atlas Lumber building was moved to the Charlie McNaught farm where it was used as a shop (The McNaught farm is presently owned by John Drost). At this time Claud Summers was the manager of Revelstoke.

Revelstoke built a new modern store and lumber shed, which was managed by Rick Park from 1974 to 1978, and by Dale Hinkley for a short period until it closed.

Reg Scott, a honey farmer, bought the Revelstoke building and saw shed in 1987 and moved it to his farm north of Bentley on Highway 12. Dave Siebold purchased the Scott farm in December 1987 and renovated the Revelstoke building and lived in it until 1995, when he moved into his new house. After moving out of the Revelstoke building, he turned it into a wood working shop. Dave gutted the saw shed and made it into a garden storage shed.