One of the representative business institutions in Alameda county is the Berkeley Lumber Company, which dates its origin from a time when West Berkeley was little more than a country village. Its growth has been coincident with the growth of the community, for since its foundation the business has been in the hands of progressive, far-sighted and able men, under whose direction it has advanced to its present large proportions.
The concern was founded about the year 1868 by F. B. Heywood, a member of the Heywood family, which has for years maintained a place of importance in the business life of California. F. B. Heywood was a native of Calais, Maine, and in 1850 sent his three sons around the Horn to California on the bark Ida. After a perilous voyage, during which they were marooned for some time on an island, they arrived in this state and after mining for a time in Yuba county, acquired property in San Francisco. In the early '60s F. B. Heywood followed his sons to the Pacific coast and in partnership with Mr. Jacobs entered into the mercantile business in Berkeley under the name of Heywood & Jacobs. They built the first wharf on the east side of San Francisco bay and established the first ferry line to San Francisco. One of F. B. Heywood's sons, Charles Heywood, engaged in the sheep business in the Napa valley for many years, driving his sheep to market from Napa to Oakland. In 1868 father and sons united in the foundation of a lumber business in West Berkeley, and they laid the foundation for the building of all of the cities on the east side of the bay. They furnished the lumber for many of the most important structures of the early times, these including the first building of the University of California. The firm continued for some time in a small way, but little by little extended its trade relations until it was finally sought after by many of the largest concerns on the coast. With the expansion of the business F. B. Heywood went to San Francisco, where he established a wholesale lumber business, leaving the West Berkeley concern in charge of another company under a lease.
After the death of F. B. Heywood his sons conducted the business in San Francisco under the name of Heywood Brothers for several years. Later Samuel Heywood, one of his brothers, took charge of the Berkeley establishment, having as a partner at that time Thomas Richardson, who continued as secretary of the company until he sold his interests to Mr. Heywood. A corporation was formed in 1900 under the laws of the state of California, the concern becoming known as the West Berkeley Lumber Company, and it was conducted by Charles D. Heywood, who was president of the concern, and Frank B. Heywood, the secretary and treasurer. In 1912 the company was reorganized and reincorporated under the name of the Berkeley Lumber Company and it has since enjoyed its usual prosperity. In 1907 the company disposed of the original property and established its present quarters at the foot of University avenue, the buildings extending to the bay in order that large vessels may come direct to the wharf for loading and unloading. January 1, 1914, the Heywoods sold the business after it had been in control of the family for forty-six years, during which time it became one of the large enterprises of Berkeley and kept pace with the rapid growth of the community, increasing its capacity as its growing trade justified. Charles D. and Frank B. Heywood are prominent in public affairs, as was their father, the latter having served for a number of years as a member of the board of trustees and also as a member of the board of education. The Berkeley Lumber Company has been for many years one of the great single forces in the development of Berkeley and its inception and development were due to the energy, enterprise and business progressiveness which are characteristics of the Heywood family, and any mention of the company invariably brings to mind the family name with which it was so long associated.
Past and Present of Alameda County California, Vol. II
Published in Chicago by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1914
Pages 421-423
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 7/5/2008
Alameda County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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