T.H. Rogers Lumber Company
In 1901, as horses and wagons traveled the dusty roads of Indian Territory, T H Rogers Lumber Company established itself on lots just west of the Frisco Depot on 6th Street across from the fancy Laurel Hotel. The company was hugely responsible for the rapid construction of the town. They furnished all building materials for businesses, homes, garages and even chicken coops. From the windows of arriving trains, travelers could see the hustle and bustle at the nearby lumber yard, which exemplified the thriving economy of this new settlement.
By September 1909, expansion was needed, and the business moved to a new building on West 7th Street just west of the First State Bank. TH Rogers has always been a huge supporter of Bristow, becoming a member of the Bristow Retail Merchants as early as 1920. The business also supported numerous organizations such as the local Boy Scouts, the Bristow Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Ministerial Alliance and the American Red Cross Blood Mobile, to name a few.
In the tumultuous era of World War I, TH Rogers was there for the citizens of Bristow. Despite national restrictions on lumber usage, the company worked hard to help local citizens find adequate building materials to maintain their homes and farms. As the war ended and the oil boom began, TH Rogers was prepared to handle the huge influx of businesses, families, oilfield workers and drilling companies by offering free plans and blueprints to customers, in addition to all the supplies needed to build those structures. With the opening of the Bristow oil fields, the company even featured rig timbers and lumber specifically designed for the oil field trade.
During the Great Depression and World War II, the lumber company did their best to supply the needs of our citizens. Dealing with many war restrictions and lumber shortages, new home construction was put on hold. Citizens were encouraged to conserve, repair, paint, patch up, fix up and keep up the homes our boys were fighting for. One ad for TH Rogers, dated January 28, 1943 encouraged citizens to build chicken coops to help provide eggs, since they were considered ‘essential foods’ to the war effort. The ad stated, “Even a chick has a part in national defense.”
After the war, construction was encouraged. TH Rogers provided everything from new home plans to wallpaper and even helped with financing through FHA. Customers could walk into the lumber yard office and discuss plans to buy land and then build a home on it - with 10% down.
In the mid 1970’s T H Rogers Lumber Company moved to their current location at 401 S. Main, where they continue to serve the Bristow area for all of our building needs. There is nothing quite like a hometown business that has proven their love of Bristow for over 120 years. As the longest continually run business in Bristow, TH Rogers certainly has many reasons to be proud. are thankful for the huge role they have played in Bristow for all these years! We would also like to invite the community to visit the Bristow Historical Museum at the depot. We are open 10-4 Monday, Friday and Saturday and other days as volunteers are available. Stop by and see your history.