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NEWS/ OBITUARY: (CARL M. HEETER) LUMBER CO. OWNER DIES IN EXPLOSION SLIGO- Carl M. Heeter, 78, of Sligo, owner of Heeter Lumber Company which operates businesses in Sligo, Rimersburg and New Bethlehem, died in an explosion that occurred in a small tool shed at his summer home along the Allegheny River at West Monterey at about 8 a.m. Monday July 24. State police are investigating the fire. Trooper David Spoharski reports the "fire appears accidental in nature. It appears the victim was in a shed which contained gasoline when he struck a spark and ignited the fumes; the ensuing explosion killing the victim." Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department members were dispatched to the scene by the Clarion county Emergency Control Center (9-1-1), at about 8 a.m. Monday with a neighbor reported the incident that occurred along the Allegheny River, about 1/2 mile upstream toward Parker from West Monterey. Reports indicate firemen could do little except contain the blaze to the shed where Mr. Heeter's body was discovered inside the building. Clarion County Coroner Rick Goble, summoned to the scene at 8:30 a.m. Monday, says Mr. Heeter "was in a little tool shed area mixing gasoline when it ignited and there was an explosion... He was a smoker...We're speculation, but a cigarette may have caused it (fire/explosion)." The coroner ruled Mr. Heeter's death was an accident caused by burn trauma. Carl M. Heeter was born October 22, 1911, in Sligo, a son of the late William and Zoe Belle (Over) Heeter. He married the former Alma Craig on May 29, 1936. She died on March 29, 1988. Mr. Heeter was the owner of Heeter Lumber Company with businesses located in Sligo, Rimersburg and New Bethlehem. He was a graduate of Sligo High School and 1933 graduate of Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pa. Mr. Heeter was a member of the Sligo Presbyterian Church. He was a deacon and an elder at the church. He also served for a number of years as a Sunday School superintendent. He is survived by a son, Rodney Heeter of Sligo; a daughter, Mrs. Carl (Rachel) Rhodes of Flat Rock, Mich.; four grandsons, Tim Heeter of New Bethlehem, Terry Heeter of Franklin, Troy Heeter of Sligo and Scot Rhodes of Flat Rock, Mich.; a granddaughter, Tamra Heeter of Sligo; a great-granddaughter, Katelin Heeter of New Bethlehem and a sister, Evelyn Logue of Salem, Ohio. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, George Heeter, who died December 1, 1977. Private services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) in the Varner Funeral Home, Sligo, with the Rev. Brian Clark, pastor of the Sligo Presbyterian Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Grandview Cemetery, Sligo. A public memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) in the Sligo Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Clark officiating. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Sligo Presbyterian Church building fund.
OBITUARY: ALMA M. HEETER (Oil City Derrick, Wed. Mar. 20, 1988) |
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HEETER LUMBER CO. 101 Shorb St, Sligo, PA 16255 (814) 745-2351
The Heeter business was established in 1914 as a sawmill. In 1963, they entered the cement industry, operating in Sligo, Rimersburg, & New Bethlehem. Historic photos below were provided this website, courtesy of Rod Heeter of Sligo.
A biography of this family may be found in the Revised Edition of the Clarion Co. Atlas on page 246. Place of residence: Sligo, PA. |
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Misc. Lumber Facts
1890 The oil boom slackened, but lumbering and clay-mining increased.
In May 1891, forest fires ravaged the Clarion County region, destroying timber tracts, sawmills, houses, and barns.
1/12/1893 Clarion Democrat The saw mill owned by Sayers & McClune is running full blast. (CHURCHVILLE)
Prior to the Allegheny Railroad entering Piney Township, all goods (mainly iron, lumber and clay) were shipped for trade via the Licking Creek, Clarion River, & Allegheny River to Pittsburgh.
Turney Paul Henry (1903-1959) also owned a lumbering business in Sligo, T.P. Henry Lumber Co. |
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History and Photos provided courtesy of Clayton Harriger, Feb. 2007.
Description: Sedgwick Lumber Yard had 2 trucks -- both Internationals with a difference -- in the family they were referred to as the "big truck" which had a real long wheel base and the "little truck" which had a short bed and wheel base. One year after getting my driver's license, granddad loaned the "big truck" to us during hay harvest to haul in hay bales -- my dad hired a couple of my buddies and we had a lot of fun hauling hay to the barn in the "big truck!" |
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HEETER LUMBER |
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Photo by Pamela Myers-Grewell |
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1970 Ad for Heeter Lumber |
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Heeter Lumber has everything you 'wood' need By Donald Baum For the Clarion News 2008 SLIGO -- The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania holds many natural wonders and resources. Without a doubt, one of the most abundant natural resources readily available in the Commonwealth just happens to be trees. Truth be told, there are over 17 million acres of forest in Pennsylvania, 93 percent of which is classified as timberland. Brothers, George and Carl Heeter took advantage of that fact and began operating a sawmill in the small village of Sligo, in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, in 1914. Over time, their business venture paid off, enough so that, the brothers were able to expand their lumber operations and in 1938 they opened an additional outlet in Rimersburg, which also does business in combination with True Value Hardware and Supply. Servicing the area's lumber and hardware needs proved to be a very profitable business. Indeed, it was lucrative enough to allow the Heeter's to expand operations yet once more. In 1953 Heeter Lumber opened their third outlet for business in the town of New Bethlehem. During the 1960's the Heeter Lumber Company experienced change by becoming involved in the cement industry. In 1963 they added Redi-Mix Concrete to their inventory becoming the area's number one cement and concrete supplier. The Heeter Lumber Company Reddi-Mix locations include New Bethlehem, off of route 66 and 402 Broad Street and 101 Sharb Street in Sligo, Pennsylvania. "Although there hasn't been anything in the way of significant changes to Heeter Lumber Company in recent years," says Troy Heeter at Heeter Lumber Company located in Sligo PA, "we are always looking to keep up with the new trends and always adding new products that result from new trends." Heeter Lumber Company is more than just all about business. They are all about community as well. The folks at Heeter Lumber care about and take action in the larger community, doing their part in such events as Rimersburg Cookie Dayz, Sligo's Fireman's Carnival, and New Bethlehem's Peanut Butter Festival. "We also support some of the area's local little league teams," says Heeter. Heeter Lumber Company has been supplying construction, remodeling, and landscaping materials and services to local area residents for well over one hundred years. From its humble beginnings as a sawmill in Sligo PA, in 1914, Heeter Lumber has evolved and adapted to the changing trends of the times, adding new products and services to suit the needs of their customers. By caring for and taking part in community events, Heeter has become much more than just a lumber store; it has become more like an old friend. Everything from wood and wood products, sand and gravel, concrete and cement, plumbing, electrical and heating and cooling needs can be found at all three Heeter locations, and it's certain that Heeter Lumber Company will continue supplying construction, remodeling, landscaping materials and services for many more years to come. It's comforting to note that, despite whatever changes have or may yet occur, at Heeter Lumber, you will always be guaranteed to get quality service, not hasty service.
—BIOGRAPHY— This name is found in Berks county, Pennsylvania, as early as 1767, for in that year Adam Heeter was named in the prioprietary return of Eastern District township. He does not seem to have been a landowner, nor was he among the taxables there in 1759, nor in 1779. Others of this name are found in Oley township in 1780, and in Exeter township in 1785. The Heeters probably belonged to the German immigration, which was so prominent among the formative elements of Pennsylvania, but to a rather late part of it, yet the name does not appear among the foreigners who took the oath of allegiance between 1727 and 1775. Finally, there was proved, in Berks county, March 17,1806, the will of Adam Hieter; he names his wife, Elizabeth, and children, Benjamin, Adam, Jacob, Mary, Odilla, Magdalena; he disposes of one hundred acres of land in Earl, in that county. (I) WILLIAM HEETER is the first member of this family about whom we have definite information. He married _____. Child, George W., of whom further. (II) George W., son of William Heeter, was born in Licking township, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1845. His education was received in public schools. For many years he has been a lumberman, and has been largely interested in the manufacture of lumber and in boat building on the Clarion river. He also owns several fine farms, about four hundred and fifty acres in all. Since 1902 he has lived at Clarion, and his home is on Wood street. He is a Democrat. For four years, he was a county mercantile appraiser, and he has held many town offices. Mr. Heeter is a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Rachel A., born in Licking township, in 1851, daughter of William Bell. Her parents were among the early settlers of Clarion county. Children: Harvey B., Phoebe L., William Melvin, Linda L. All are living. (III) William Melvin, son of George W. and Rachel A. (Bell) Heeter, was born in Licking township, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, April 9, 1874. He was brought up to the lumber business on the Clarion river, and attended public school, also Rimersburg Academy. At first he was associated in business with his father, but since 1904 he has been in business by himself. Until 1909 he lived at Callensburg; in that year he came to Sligo and there he built a fine residence. Having sold this in 1912, he built another house, also at Sligo. He is a Democrat. At the present time he is serving a term of six years as school director in the borough of Sligo. He is a Presbyterian. Mr. Heeter married, September 27, 1900, Zoe Bell, born in Licking township, May 6, 1877, daughter of James and Louise (Reese) Over. Children: Evelyn Bell, George James, Carle Melvin. Source: Genealogical and personal history of Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, by John Woolf Jordan - 1913 p. 355.
Source: Reproduction of Caldwell's Illustrated Atlas of Clarion County Pennsylvania 1877 with supplemental data to 1964. Limited edition edited by Record Press, Rimersburg, PA. Page 246 |
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SEDGWICK LUMBER |
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Edward J. and Estella (Robb) Sedgwick. Photo courtesy of Clayton Harriger. |
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Description: Sedgwick Lumber Yard did business from late 30's through the 40's and 50's. Edward J. Sedgwick and sons, Edward L. and Ernest, operated the business. Persons in this photo are unknown -- possibility of man with baby in foreground could be uncle Ernest with one of his daughters, Priscilla or Ruth Ann. |
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During WW II both Edward (Army) and Ernest Sedgwick (Navy) served . Edward Sr assisted by Estella, kept the business going and got a contract to make sand boxes. E. J. and Estella made a name for themselves with their sand boxes! Even grandson, Clayton, got into the act. Estella would give him the materials: nails, screws etc for final assembly by the customer -- they were put in a little cloth bag with a draw string on it. Clayton would count out whatever was to go into the bag -- and was reminded to be very careful to be sure he had the exact amount to include with sandboxes. Pictured is a load of sand boxes ready for delivery.
Some assembly was required -- as grandson, Clayton Harriger, recalls, “basically they were made of wooden sides, wooden legs, bracing underneath with galvanized metal on the bottom -- grandad of course, cut out all the wooden parts and they were painted -- red was a dominant color and I believe some parts were green -- a good Christmas theme, but they were sold year round. They were covered somehow with legs etc, and also the cloth bag with hardware placed inside so that it was like a box when shipped as you can see from the load on the truck.” |
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HISTORY OF LUMBER INDUSTRY
Penn Mills, a short distance from the mouth of the Toby, was one of the earliest steam saw-mills in the country. It was built in 1858 on a large and complete scale for that date, with a cutting power of 15,000 a day. The proprietors were Reynolds, Pritner, Curll and Myers. In 1865 a water- spout devastated the valley of Little Toby, undermining the mill, carrying away the boiler, and destroying the road and tramway to the river. The mill was not rebuilt. History of Clarion County, p362
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