The I.N.R. Beatty Lumber Co. building has been a staple on Liberty Street in downtown Morris for 115 years, but the location permanently closed its doors Jan. 1.
“It took a long time for the owner to make that decision because it is very sentimental,” Edward Winkless Jr., executive vice president of Beatty Lumber, said.
“The Morris community has always supported our company and we’re going to continue to support them through our delivery service and educated employees.”
For about 3 1/2 years, the company has been suffering, and attempting to cut costs without shutting locations.
“Each year since the middle of 2006 it’s gotten a little worse and worse, and we had to do some things we preferred not to do,” Bruce Baldridge, vice president of marketing, said.
The company consolidated its corporate office from two locations – in Palos Heights and Joliet – to just Joliet; it made some locations, including Morris, pick-up only locations; and laid-off employees.
“We did everything we could to not close facilities,” Baldridge said.
But, ultimately, the housing recession became too hard to fight and the company had to do something to keep going. The company’s loyal contractors have stopped ordering materials because they have no work.
Many have even taken on new careers, Baldridge said.
Beatty officials decided to close both the Morris and Oak Lawn locations at the start of 2010. The locations just were not getting enough business to stay open.
Two long-term employees of the Morris location were offered and accepted positions at the Joliet location, but six others lost their jobs with the closing.
“It’s a sad thing to do; we’re not thrilled about any of this,” Winkless said.
This week, employees were inventorying and packing the Morris store’s stock. A closing sale will be held in Morris at the end of this month or in February, Winkless said.
Beatty still has locations in Joliet and Beecher, as well as its Fort Poli Millwork store is in Mokena.
“The location has closed, but not our company. We’re still employing people from the Morris community and we’re still delivering there,” Winkless said.
Winkless said Beatty customers in Morris and the surrounding area will still have outside salesmen who have always – and will continue to – serve their lumber and building needs. Deliveries will be made to the area from the Joliet location.
A FAMILY TRADITION
Beatty Lumber is currently run by the third generation of the Beatty family.
Issac Newton Ross Beatty became a partner in his uncle’s lumber company, Thomas H. Ross Lumber Co. in Morris, in 1895. Their Utica branch was then named The Beatty-Ross Lumber Co., according to the company’s Web site, www.beattylumber.com.
By 1908, the company was wholly owned by Issac Newton Ross Beatty and was renamed I.N.R. Beatty Lumber Co. Through the years, the company continued to grow, opening new locations in surrounding Grundy and Will counties, but also in the northern Chicagoland area.
The Morris store was rebuilt three times on the same site through the years, according to the Web site.
The current owner and president is Robert Beatty. Despite the family's move out of Morris through the years, the family cemetery lots are still in Morris, Winkless said.
The closings are not the beginning of the end for Beatty.
“I have quite a few years left to work and we will try to build up again at a better time,” Winkless said.
The Morris location will be up for sale and could be purchased as a whole or in parcels, Winkless said. For more information call (815) 724-1322.