Milwaukie Lumber — store sign and MAX light rail, Milwaukie Oregon

Est. 1939

Pacific Northwest Lumber, Through and Through

For over 87 years, Milwaukie Lumber has been supplying the Pacific Northwest with quality building materials and honest service. We're not a big-box store — we're your neighbors.

3 Locations 87+ Years Family Owned Since 1987 Portland Metro & SW Washington

Our Story

Rooted Here Since 1939.

Milwaukie Lumber was founded in 1939 by the Kingsley family, establishing roots in the heart of Milwaukie, Oregon — a community built on timber and hard work. For nearly five decades, the Kingsley family served local contractors and homeowners with the same commitment that defines us today.

In July 1987, Steve Morse purchased the business and began a new chapter. Under Morse family ownership, the company has grown from a single Milwaukie location to three stores serving the greater Portland metro and Southwest Washington.

Today, Brad Morse serves as General Manager, carrying the family tradition into its next era — with the same values that have kept customers coming back for 87 years: quality materials, honest prices, and people who know what it means to build in the Pacific Northwest.

Steve Morse surveys the Milwaukie Lumber yard from a rooftop, October 1994

Steve Morse at the Milwaukie Lumber yard, 1994

Est. 1939

Our History

87 Years
Building the Northwest

1939 Today

Milwaukie, OR Portland, OR Vancouver, WA

The Founding Era

1939

Founded by the Kingsley Family

Milwaukie Lumber opens its doors in Milwaukie, Oregon — a city with timber in its DNA. The town was founded in 1847 by Lot Whitcomb, who built one of the region's first sawmills on the Willamette River and supplied lumber to California during the Gold Rush. The Kingsley family carried on that tradition, establishing Milwaukie Lumber just two years before Pearl Harbor triggered an enormous WWII surge in Pacific Northwest lumber demand. That early crucible forged the resilience the company would draw on for decades to come. A historical photograph of the original yard hangs today in the Ledding Library in downtown Milwaukie.

Milwaukie Lumber Co. newspaper advertisement, 1941 — Everything For the Builder

Original newspaper ad, 1941

1965

“Kingsley Lumber & Milwaukie Lumber — Spring Sale Items”

Two Stores, One Family Network

For decades before the 1987 ownership change, Kingsley Lumber and Milwaukie Lumber operated as closely linked sister stores — often advertising together in the same newspaper. This 1965 spring sale ad promoted the same deals at both locations: fir plywood, sheetrock, paneling, mahogany doors, ceiling tile. The two stores shared a customer base and identity that would eventually come full circle — when Milwaukie Lumber purchased the Kingsley Stark Street store in 1999.

Kingsley Lumber & Milwaukie Lumber joint spring sale advertisement, April 1965

Joint advertisement, April 1965

The Morse Era Begins

1987

“Lumber Company Has New Owners”

Morse Family Takes Ownership

Steve Morse purchased Milwaukie Lumber from the Kingsley family in July 1987. The Oregonian covered the sale, reporting on the new owner's vision to build on the Kingsley legacy while doubling down on personal service for local contractors and homeowners.

“Our idea is to be real service-oriented. We want to be the lumber company that cares.” — Steve Morse, The Oregonian, 1987

The Oregonian, 1987

1989

Showroom Expansion

A new showroom triples the retail footprint from 700 to 3,500 square feet. The Milwaukie yard is also repaved — replacing gravel with asphalt, a small detail that made a big difference for contractors loading up every morning.

1992

“Milwaukie Lumber Plans Major Expansion”

Plywood Shed & New Salesman

The company expands the Milwaukie flagship with a covered plywood shed and new equipment — improving throughput for the contractors who depended on sheet goods. The expansion also brought Pat Fitzgerald on board, a new salesman with 25 years at Parr Lumber who knew the business inside out.

“Everyone in the business knows and likes Pat. He does what he says he can do and always gives that extra effort.” — Steve Morse, 1992

February 1992

1993

Clackamas County Review, Feb. 25, 1993

“Milwaukie Landmark Business Survives with Hustle”

New Office Building & Community Recognition

As the region emerges from recession, the Clackamas County Review profiles Milwaukie Lumber as a local institution — recognizing the staff's deep contractor relationships and the hands-on service model that sets the company apart from big-box competitors. A new office building at the flagship is also completed this year.

“I have awesome employees who know the building industry well. We’re very flexible for the contractors.” — Steve Morse, Clackamas County Review, 1993

1994

Steve Morse · October 1994

A Growing Yard, A Growing Legacy

By 1994, Milwaukie Lumber had grown substantially under Steve Morse's seven-year ownership — a new showroom, a repaved yard, and a plywood shed had transformed the flagship location. This photo, captured for local press coverage, shows Steve surveying the operation from a rooftop, the "Milwaukie Lumber Company" sign visible in the background.

The growth wasn't finished. In less than two years, a record-breaking sales month would trigger the search for a second location — across the Columbia River in Washington State.

Expansion & Growth

1996

Vancouver, WA Location Opens

The Milwaukie store hits a record $2 million in a single month — but demand is outpacing capacity. "The needs of our customers were not being taken care of properly due to the sales volume," Steve Morse said. The search goes north across the Columbia River, where the company acquires a 46,000 sq. ft. retail/warehouse building on five acres at NE 131st & Fourth Plain Boulevard, formerly occupied by Ziggy's Building Materials. Vancouver opens in August 1996.

Second Location · August 1996

News clipping — Vancouver WA store opening, August 1996

Vancouver store opening, August 1996

1999

“Milwaukie Lumber Co. Will Acquire Former Parent Kingsley”

Portland Stark St Acquired

In May 1999, the Kingsley family — the very family who founded Milwaukie Lumber in 1939 — approached Steve Morse to sell their SE 81st & Stark Street store. Blake M. Kingsley, the fourth-generation president, planned to move to Virginia to operate another family business. Midway between the Milwaukie and Vancouver yards, the location expanded the company's reach from Gresham to Northwest Portland. The existing customer base and experienced staff came with the deal.

Third Location · May 1999

Business journal: Milwaukie Lumber Co. will acquire former parent Kingsley, May 1999

Business Journal, May 1999

2007

The Milwaukie Review, May 2007

“What's Their Sign? Lumber Workers Know”

The Marquee That Made Milwaukie Smile

The marquee sign outside the Milwaukie flagship had become a local institution — known for witty, good-natured messages that stopped passersby in their tracks. The Milwaukie Review profiled the tradition in May 2007, noting how the sign had generated calls, laughs, and more than a few new customers curious enough to come see what was inside.

“It's been a lot of fun and it generated a lot of conversation.” — Rich Greenfield, Milwaukie Lumber, 2007

2015

MAX Orange Line Arrives Next Door

On September 12, 2015, TriMet opens the MAX Orange Line — and the Milwaukie/SE Main St station lands right at SE 21st & Main, steps from the flagship store's front door. It's the first passenger rail service through Milwaukie since the historic Interurban Line shut down in 1958. Milwaukie Lumber, a fixture through decades of change, now sits at the heart of a newly connected downtown.

Downtown Milestone · September 2015

Today

Three Locations, One Standard

Steve Morse has served as president since 1987, building an outstanding team of industry veterans across all three locations. Under Brad Morse's day-to-day leadership, the company's 15-truck fleet logs over 220,000 miles a year delivering to job sites across the Portland/Vancouver metro — with a perfect driver safety record. The commitment to expanding within the region continues.

3Stores

87+Years

8,000+Products

50+Brands

From Our Archives

Eight Decades in Print

Real newspaper clippings and advertisements spanning 87 years of Milwaukie Lumber history.

Milwaukie Lumber Co. — Everything For the Builder. Original newspaper advertisement, 1941. — Original advertisement · 1941

Kingsley Lumber and Milwaukie Lumber Co. joint spring sale advertisement, April 1965. — Kingsley & Milwaukie Lumber · 1965

Milwaukie Lumber Co. building supplies advertisement, November 1987 — first ad under Morse ownership. — First ad, Morse era · Nov. 1987

Business journal briefing: Milwaukie Lumber Co. will acquire former parent Kingsley, May 1999. — Portland Stark acquisition · May 1999

Milwaukie Lumber Co. Vancouver WA spring specials advertisement, May 1999. — Vancouver spring specials · 1999

87+ Years in Business

3 Store Locations

8,000+ Products in Stock

50+ Brands Carried

What Sets Us Apart

Why Contractors Choose Milwaukie Lumber

Free Estimates & Quotes

Bring plans, a sketch, or just a description — we'll put together a detailed, itemized quote at no charge. New construction, additions, decks, fencing, remodels.

On-Time Delivery

Our trucks and forklifts deliver to job sites on time — we coordinate every delivery to hit your project timeline.

Material Takeoffs

Bring your plans — our staff calculates a complete materials list including lumber, plywood, hardware, connectors, and I-joist layout. A charged service available at all locations.

Dedicated Sales Staff

Named contractor sales reps at every location who know your specs, stock what you need, and handle your account personally.

Three Convenient Locations

Milwaukie, Vancouver WA, and Portland Stark St — wherever you're building in the metro, we're nearby.

87 Years of Local Trust

We've been here since 1939 and we're not going anywhere. Family-owned, community-focused, Portland-built.

Aerial view of Milwaukie, Oregon with the Willamette River — home of Milwaukie Lumber since 1939

Milwaukie, Oregon — our home since 1939

Our People

Meet The Team

Contractors and homeowners keep coming back because they know our staff — by name, by phone, and by the fact that we pick up when you call. Get to know the people behind the counter at all three locations.

Meet The Team →