Frank Miller Lumber Company, in continuous operation for over a century!
John Miller (pictured at left) founded what is now known as Frank Miller Lumber Company (FML) after migrating from Marion, Ohio, to Union City, Indiana. Miller purchased the lumber mill from Charles Neal in 1903 when the commercial enterprise was filling small orders for local farmers around Union City. Frank Miller, John’s son, worked alongside his father in the lumber business and eventually took over the operation when his father passed away in 1918.
Since that time, several family members have had a hand in managing the company, including Frank's wife, Mae, and their children Robert Miller (Pictured at right) and Martha Miller Mathias. Today Frank Miller's children and grandchildren oversee the company's business affairs. They’ve combined their talents and expertise with those of a team of dedicated professionals exploring innovative, new ways to improve the production of quality hardwoods. Additionally, they strive to continue the same caliber of service they’ve always provided their customers.
Currently, Martha Miller Mathias is the Chairman of the Board; Bob Miller is the director of Business Development; Mark Miller is the Southeast Sales Manager and Export Manager; Robert Miller and Susan Mathias Maurais serve on the Board of Directors.
FML has developed new markets, increased product diversity and updated technology over the years, earning the company a reputation for being one of the nation’s most reliable quartersawn hardwood providers and one of the world's largest producers of premium quartersawn hardwoods.
In its earliest days and well into the 1920s, the mill was run by a steam engine. The engine was replaced with an electric motor that was still in use at the time of the fire in 1992.
In the 1920s, with only eight employees, the average production was 2,000 board feet per day. Today the production rate is 5,000 board feet per hour. In the roaring 20s FML sold lumber to the Union City Body Company to build school buses. A crosscut saw was used to fell trees until 1945 when the first chainsaw was purchased. This first chainsaw was much larger than those used today, requiring two men to operate it.
In 1938, FML cut square 12 x 12 timbers for dock areas around Lake Michigan. Robert Miller actually rode in the truck hauling these timbers. The truck had kerosene lanterns for clearance lights and he recalls that it was necessary to stop routinely to check to see if the lamps were still burning.
During World War II, FML cut 4 x 4 and 3 x 5 mine sweeper fingers that were 24 feet long. From about 1945 to the 1960s, FML cut timbers for docks and locks at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, Sault Ste. Marie, and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
In the early 1960s, FML started cutting quartersawn lumber for a chair company that is still a customer today. During this time, FML also sold Walnut lumber for legs on Steinway pianos and cut Ash used to make rowboat oars. In 1963, FML was the first sawmill in Indiana to start making chips for the Mead Paper mill in Chillicothe, Ohio.
In 1982, FML began marketing to Japan. A Japanese furniture manufacturing group came to the United States in search of mills to cut wood for their furniture business. They selected FML and this area because of the quality of White Oak, which closely resembles Japanese White Oak. Technically, this was the beginning of the quartersawn era. It was then that FML seriously implemented the quartersawing method to supply their Japanese customers. Today, FML continues to enjoy a close business relationship with its Japanese customers.
1992 Fire
On January 1, 1992, tragedy struck when a raging fire destroyed the sawmill at FML. Damage was confined to the main sawmill building, causing an estimated $4 million in damage. This was devastating to the company. The blaze was reported around 9:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day, and more than 100 firefighters from 11 fire departments fought the blaze for seven hours. According to the fire chief at the time, the fire was one of the largest ever to occur in the Union City area. He said it was also the largest monetary loss as a result of a fire. At the time of the fire FML employed approximately 75 workers.
FML employees reported the following day to begin cleanup. After recovering from the initial shock and completing the major cleanup, management and employees immediately began to plan for the rebuilding of the sawmill. Eventually a portable sawmill was brought in to continue producing hardwoods for customers. This way of operating continued for a year, despite extreme working conditions. At this time there were only about 55 employees.
The rebirth of FML took place in 1993. After months of extensive planning, the long process of renovating the former Westinghouse Small Motor Division plant began. This became FML’s main production facility (now called Plant 2) and was completed in March of 1993. Some of the equipment for the new sawmill came from a west coast mill that had shut down because of the spotted owl environmental issue. An open house at the new facility was held on May 7, 1994. Martha Miller Mathias said at the time, “We had a major disaster, rebuilt, and are back stronger than before the fire.”
Retail Store
In 1995, FML added a retail store at the production facility. The company saw a need to accommodate the local less-than-truckload user. Regional furniture makers, cabinetmakers, crafters and hobbyists comprise the customer base for the FML Retail Store. The business grew so much that it was necessary to expand. A new 18,000 square foot facility was added to the west end of Plant 2, and it opened early in 2000. A crew of eight workers now operates the store.
With increased growth, there was a need to increase kiln capacity, and nine new dry kilns were built. Now, twenty kilns allow for a kiln capacity of approximately 1.32 million board feet (on a 4/4 basis).
A 44,000 square foot warehouse was built west of the production facility in 1996. This serves as a storage facility and staging area for loading containers and flatbed trucks, both of which can be loaded inside.
In 2000, the company expanded its operations to include a 700,000bf kiln facility and concentration yard in Salem, Indiana. This is where FML’s plain sawn lumber is dried and custom kiln drying is offered.
100th Anniversary Celebration
On a gloriously sunny September day in 2003, FML celebrated its 100th anniversary. Hundreds of visitors attended a public open house with tours, door prizes, and food to recognize the milestone anniversary.
Regarding future plans, Martha Miller Mathias says the goal of FML is to stay on track for continued growth. She said her father, Frank Miller, "would be surprised by the 100-year birthday and what the business has become."