In 1933 my father, mother, sister and I came to Mayfield, KY. It was during the time of "The Great Depression". My father John M. Myers, had bought the C.M. Davis Lumber Co. on West Broadway next to Long's Laundry. Before coming to Mayfield my father and mother had owned the family's coal and lumber company in small town in Montgomery County, Indiana. They chose Mayfield, KY to live, because even though the country was in a depression, the factories in Mayfield were still busy and the local economy was going strong.
I attended Mayfield High School where I played basketball, went to the American Legion for dances and attended the First Presbyterian Church. After high school I went to Indiana University and graduated in 1940. I married my wife, Peggy, in 1941 and came home to Mayfield. World War II had just started and we weren't sure what the future would hold. After Pearl Harbor, I like so many others, went off to war, within a year in 1942 following the birth of my first son I returned to the United States Christmas 1945 after serving duty in France, ready to settle down in Mayfield and learn the family lumber business. After World War II there were shortage of materials. It was difficult to take care of the customers needs, but my Father was very concerned that everyone was treated fairly.
My first daughter was born in 1948 and then the twins came in 1949. My life had really change, four kids and the country was starting to recover from Post War era. My father John M. Myers, died in 1950 leaving me in charge to manage the family business. You never are truly prepared when you are suddenly in charge, but I tried to follow my fathers advise, "always treat everyone fairly like you want to be treated and you will always have plenty of business."
In 1955 we had our 3rd son. Mayfield prospered in the 1950's and there were many new homes and other building projects. Times had changed. We needed more room for our business and there was new equipment to help make delivering materials easier. We started looking for a new location where we could implement these new ideas. In 1960 we started building at our present location, 408 West Broadway, formerly the Illinois Central Passenger Depot. Construction was completed in March 1961 and we were open for business. General Tire came to Mayfield and another boom began. There was a real need for housing for these young families. Times were good with farming still flourishing and new factory jobs for the young families in our area. Our business was growing so we added new warehouses and larger inventories. We wanted to have the largest selection of building materials of anyone in the area.
Our children were growing up and going off to college. In 1971 one son decided to come home and work in the family business. Ingersoll Rand located a plant in Mayfield and more families needed a place to live. Our business was growing and we needed more room to store material. In 1976 we bought the land at 512 West Broadway and opened Mayfield Building Supply, Inc. Another son finished college and decided to come home and work in the family business in 1977.
Times have not always been good. In 1980 and 1981 the country was in an economic recession and we suffered, but our customers stayed with us. People in Mayfield and Graves County always rise to the occasion and the local economy began to improve. In 1984 we purchased a lumber yard in Murray, KY and started operations there. In 1985 we started operating a plumbing and electrical store at 326 West Broadway in Mayfield. We wanted to be able to supply everything someone would need to build a home. In two years there were a lot more families depending upon Myers Lumber for a living.
Looking for other opportunities we opened a store in Lone Oak, KY in 1989, with a large new building, new displays and a complete line of building materials we prepared for the future. The decision of Seaboard Farms to locate in Graves County brought another additional industry to our county's growth with 300+ chicken operations and new source of income for our farm families and agribusiness.
Our latest expansion was into the commercial contractors supply with our Commercial Products Inc. Company. This company located in Mayfield sells projects in TN, IL, MO, and KY. They manufacture hollow metal door units and sell heavy duty hardware for businesses and schools.
We have come a long way from a small company in 1933 employing five people to six companies employing over 90 people. We owe this success to each individual in our organization whose hard work had made our company a success. Truly we have been blessed in our 64 years in Mayfield and Graves County.
John A. Myers
Written in 1997
