About Us
The Bay Area Contractors Choice Since 1950
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. This growth allowed us to diversify our product lines and grow into a full service lumberyard catering to commercial contractors, multi-family residential builders, custom home builders, remodelers, public infrastructure, and local industry.
Today, our business is still family owned and operated. We have maintained our core values -- commitment to service and to meet and exceed our customers expectations.
Co-founder, Timothy A. Fogarty, Sr. circa 1950.
2 pcs 16x16x66’ DF Select Str. FOHC Timbers—late ‘60’s. Pictured here is current president Tom Fogarty and Ben Gysbers.
Co-founder, Timothy A. Fogarty, Sr. circa 1950.
Our Approach to Service
At Osborne Lumber, we do more than move wood across a counter — we partner with builders to help projects succeed. Unlike the big box stores or purely transactional yards, our team takes a hands-on approach rooted in decades of industry knowledge.
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Contractor-Focused Support: We know the demands of the jobsite. Our sales team and yard crew are trained to anticipate challenges and recommend solutions that save time and reduce waste.
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Specialty Materials & Expertise: From engineered lumber to exotic hardwoods, we stock and source products others can’t — and we back it with technical guidance and accurate take-offs.
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Personal Relationships: We treat every customer, from small remodelers to large general contractors, as a partner. You’ll always talk to a real person who understands your business.
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Dependable Delivery: Our fleet and scheduling systems are designed around contractor timelines, so materials arrive when and where they’re needed.
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Commitment to Quality: Every board, panel, and fastener is chosen with performance in mind — because we know the reputation of your build depends on ours.
This approach allows us to deliver not just lumber, but trust, reliability, and peace of mind — the foundation of every successful project.