|
John Forry Rohrbaugh (1858 - 1917) founded the J.F. Rohrbaugh & Co., Inc. in 1880. J.F. was engaged in the building and contracting business. He also manufactured custom millwork for others. Included in this production were doors, door frames, windows, moldings and other interior and exterior wood trim required for houses and other structures. The marketing area for Rohrbaugh Company millwork included all of York and Adams Counties.
J. Walter Rohrbaugh (1888 - 1960) succeeded to the helm of the company on his father's death in 1917. J.W. continued to build the business and incorporated it in 1931. In the late 1940's and 1950's, J.W. concentrated on expanding sales of lumber and related building materials. The custom millwork business, meanwhile, was losing market share to mass produced stock millwork made in western states, which were closer to the softwood lumber supply.
In 1962 Bruce R. and Sally W. Yelland (J.W.'s granddaughter) bought controlling interest in the Rohrbaugh Company from J.W.'s estate. Yelland began diversifying into industrial wood products, including wooden pallets, skids and crating. After a disastrous fire in 1964, the decision was made to concentrate on industrial wood products rather that building materials. Steven Yelland, current President, is the fifth generation of his family to lead the company and continues to focus on the manufacture of industrial wood products to this day, with sales covering the entire Mid-Atlantic Region.
|
