Akron, Ohio
This building was used as a lumber warehouse. Storing lumber
for the near by Brown Graves Lumber mill. The larger office
and storage building burned to the ground on June 14, 2005.
Three years earlier another Brown Graves building had been
gutted by fire. Arson was suspected in both fires.
The building we explored was built in 1945. Theres a small
office inside and some paperwork and other typical office
supplies laying around. The warehouse consists of three main
rooms. Some machines are left making me think that it might
have been used for something other than just lumber storage,
but everything I've read says it was just a warehouse. If
anyone has any more information on this building please feel
free to contact us (greatlakesurbanex@gmail.com)
Harvey Lathrop Graves, was an employee of Goehring Manufacturing
Co., which started the lumber operation in 1899 on 10 acres
off Sweitzer Avenue. Graves bought the company in 1908 and it
became Brown Graves Lumber Co.
Brown-Graves once described itself as Northeast Ohio's largest
lumber company. During its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, it
grew into one of the largest providers of custom milling in
the Eastern United States. It even supplied all the windows
to the old Mayflower Hotel.
In 1999, the company closed its outdated Akron operation,
laying off 100 workers. Whats left of the company is now
in Copley, Ohio.
