Ph: 510-793-3838 | Fax: 510-793-7265 | Email: sales@osbornelumber.com

COMPANY HISTORY

Osborne Lumber Company was founded in 1950 by Warren Osborne and a group of partners that included a salesman from Interbay Lumber Company named Timothy A. Fogarty.  We operated out of a small two acre yard on the Newark rail head, formerly the site of Leslie Salt / Cotton Brothers Planning Mill and prior to that the Carter Brothers Rail Car Foundry.  Dusty in the summer and muddy in the winter.  Our sales reflected the nature of the region, agriculture and manufacturing.

As the post war housing expansion moved south we were ready and able to furnish materials for the new homes, schools, highways and businesses.  In 1974 Warren Osborne retired and the controlling shares of the company were sold to Timothy Fogarty, an experienced lumber salesman and visionary.  As the needs of the east bay grew the need for an Osborne Lumber Company expansion was evident. 

In 1984 we moved to our present 7 acre facility, where we supplied lumber and building materials for the incredible growth of Silicon Valley throughout the ‘80’s & ‘90’s.   During that time management of the company was transitioned to the 2nd generation of Fogarty’s, as Tom, Kevin, and Ted climbed the ranks.

Today our business is still family owned and operated by the Fogarty family.  Our ability to maintain successful is due to our commitment to service and our ability to adapt with the times to meet and exceed our customers expectations.  

Sixty years of dedication and service! 

 

 

 

Co-founder, Timothy A. Fogarty, Sr. circa 1950.

Original location on Sycamore & Carter St. in Newark

2 pcs 16x16x66’ DF Select Str. FOHC Timbers—late ‘60’s.  Pictured here is current president Tom Fogarty and Ben Gysbers

Tom, Ted, & Tim Sr. circa 1981.  100,000’+ inbound rail car of 2x4.

The old saw-mill in the 1970’s.

Co-founder, Tim Fogarty Sr.

1983—Construction begins on the new facility.

Newspaper article reporting demolition of the old facility.  Article from the Oakland Tribune - 1985, reflecting on Newark’s early industrial era.

New 7 acre facility circa 1990.  Larger mill, warehouse space, and more capacity!

Current Vice President Kevin Fogarty—circa 1980.

Current Vice President Ted Fogarty with yard dog of the ‘80’s—a German Sheppard named Buck

Current era day-to-day operations of a modern lumber-yard.

Load of engineered wood products.

Current yard dog—setting sticks for a forklift driver....

Current OLC sawmill managers Bill Hotaling and Miguel Loza inspect raw logs from a Douglas Fir lumber supplier in Oregon.

The 3rd generation of Fogarty management joined the ranks in 2005—Sean (left), and Tommy (right). 

Sixty Years of Dedication and Service!