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An Inventory of the Records of the

Hallack ' Howard Lumber Company

Collection Number 288

A Holding of the Library of the Colorado Historical Society

1300 Broadway Denver, co 80203

Processed by Tracie Etheredqe

Copyright 1991 THE COLORADO HISTORICAL SOCIETY

All Rights Reserved

( TABLE OF CONTENTS

Historical Information ......••.......•••••.......•.••••.....•. 1

Chronology ••••...•.••••••••. • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 4

Scope and Contents •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 6

Series Description ......••......•.•••.....•.•••...•..•••••... 8

Collection Contents ..•..•• . ..••.•••.•...••••••..••••.•••..•.•• 9

Correspondence ••...•• .. ••..•••.••....••.•.... 9

Legal & Financial Documents •••••...••••••••• lO

Sales Ledgers ••.......••.......••••.......•• 11

Order Books • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 12

Account Ledgers •••••• • •••••••••••••••••••••• 13

Letterpress Books .....••.......••.•.......•• 13

Invoice Books ..•.•.••.......••••....•.•••... 13

Employee Time Books ••• • •••.•• • •••••••••.•••• 14

Estimate Ledgers ••••• • •.••••• •• • •• ••••.••••• 14

Miscellaneous Ledgers .•••••.•..•••••••.••..• l4

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HISTORICAL IHFORMATION

The Hallack & Howard Lumber Company, formed in the early years

of the state of Colorado, grew along with the state and served a

vital function in the Denver area for over -eighty years.

Erastus F. Hal lack, an already prosperous Colorado

entrepreneur, entered the lumber business in 1867 when he and his

brother established the Hallack Brothers Lumber Company in Denver.

The firm was enlarged in 1877 when Charles and J.H. Howard joined

the company and the name changed to Hallack & Howard Lumber

Company.

The new company, located on Seventh and Larimer Streets in

Denver, was described as 11not only the most extensive in Denver,

but one of the largest and most complete concerns in the West."

The company carried lumber, sash, doors and blinds, and building

materials of all kinds; including window glass, cement, building

papers, and roofing materials. The company also maintained an

extensive brick yard located at the end of 18th Street.

The company acquired their lumber products from all parts of

the country, with immense quantities shipped directly from mills

in Michigan and Wisconsin to supply the needs of Denver area

residents. The Howard Brothers also operated extensive lumber

yards in Nebraska and Kansas.

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Halleck end Howard Lunber Company 2

In 1879, E. F. Hallack retired from Hallack & Howard. He

formed another lumber company, which in 1891 was consolidated with

the Sayre-Newton Lumber Company. In 1889, he formed the Hallack

Paint, Oil & Glass Company, which he sold in 1905 to J.G. McMurtry

who renamed it the McMurtry Manufacturing Company. An astute

businessman and entrepreneur, Hallack was perhaps the first large

employer in Colorado to inaugurate a profit-sharing plan for his

employees.

He was also prominent in Denver society, being active in

charitable causes and local businesses. He was an incorporator of

the Rocky Mountain Construction Company, which later merged with

the Denver Union Water Company, and signed as a charter member of

the Denver Club. A popular Denver resident, he turned down several

public offices, including that of governor, and remained an active

citizen of the Denver community until his death in 1897.

After the departure of E.F. Hallack, the Hallack & Howard

Lumber Company continued to prosper with Charles Howard as

president and Charles Hallack, Jos.eph Howard, William Delleker,

and William Bryant serving as directors. The company constantly

grew, even during a building shortage of 1921-1923 when Hallack &

Howard conceived of a small home building plan that helped to

relieve the shortage.

The company continued to flourish in the 1950's and 1960's,

with U.R. Armstrong and F . C. Schmidt as successive presidents. In

1950, Hallack & Howard merged with the Craig Mountain Lumber

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Halleck and Howard Lumber C~ny 3

Company in Washington state and its affiliate, the Craig Mountain

Railway Company. The latter lumber company was dissolved and

Hallack & Howard absorbed its business. The Railway Company

continued as a separate corporate entity. That same year, Hallack

& Howard purchased the Colorado Mill and Lumber Company of

Englewood, which continued as a Hallack & Howard subsidiary. The

company saw further expansion in 1959 with a merger with Valley

Building Supply of Pueblo.

The beginning of the end for Hallack & Howard came in February

of 1960 when Boise-Cascade, the fourth largest lumber producer in

the world at that time, bought all outstanding Hallack & Howard

stock. In November 1960, the Hallack & Howard Lumber Company was

dissolved by the new parent company.

( Hallaek and Howard Lunber Company 4

CHRONOLOGY

1832 May 30: Erastus F. Hallack is born in Bethany, New York.

1853 E.F. Hallack leaves New York and heads west to st. Charles, Illinois where he opens a carriage manufacturing company.

1868 E.F. and Charles Hallack establish the Hallack Brothers LUmber Company in Denver, Colorado.

1877 Joseph and Charles Howard join the company and the name is changed to Hallack & Howard Lumber Company.

1879 E.F. Hallack retires from Hallack & Howard and opens the E.F. Hallack Lumber and Manufacturing Company.

1889 E. F. Hallack opens the Hallack Paint, Oil & Glass Company.

1891

1897

1905

1907

1910

1921

1928

1950

1951

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E.F. Hallack Lumber and Manufacturing Company is con·solidated with the Sayre-Newton Lumber Company and becomes the Hallack-Sayre-Newton Lumber Company.

December 6: E.F. Hallack dies while on a visit to Kansas City.

Hallack Paint, Oil & Glass Company is sold to J .G. McMurtry and renamed McMurtry Manufacturing company.

Josepn Howard becomes the president of Hallack & Howard Lumber Company, Ida Howard is vice-president.

The craig Mountain Lumber Company is established.

The Craig Mountain Railway Company is established.

B. Coldren becomes the president of Hallack & Howard.

Hallack & Howard Lumber Company merges with the Craig Mountain Lumber Company.

The Colorado Mill & Lumber Company is established.

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( 1959

1960

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Hellaek and Howard Lunber Company 5

Hallack & Howard Lumber Company merges with Valley Building Supply of Pueblo, Colorado.

F.C. Schmidt is the president of Hallack & Howard, I.E. Simms is vice-president.

February: Boise-cascade buys all of Hallack & Howard's outstanding stock.

November: Hallack & Howard Lumber Company is dissolved.

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SCOPE AND CONTENTS

At one time, the Hallack & Howard Lumber Company was among

the largest building supplies companies in Colorado. It played an

integral part in the growth and development of the state by

supplying the state's building needs for over eighty years.

The materials in this collection provide a record of the

business transactions that kept the company functioning throughout

its history. They serve as a record of the buying, selling, and

transporting of materials: the account situations of customers; and

the various transactions that are needed to keep a company the size

of Hallack & Howard alive and healthy.

The collection a series of Correspondence (1882-1886), and

Leqal and Financial Documents (1883-1960), most of which relate to

the mergers the company underwent in the 1950's and 1960's. The

bulk of the collection is made up of bound volumes divided into

Sales Ledqers (1875-1892), which record sales and purchases of the

company as well as railroad shipping information; Order Books

(1881-1888); Account Ledgers (1865-1886): which show the activities

of separate accounts, Letterpress Books (1881-1899); Invoice Books

(1880-1887), Employee Time Books (1881-1888): Estimate Ledgers

(1884-1888); and Miscellaneous Ledqers (1881-1938), including a Bad

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Hall ack and Howard LUIIber Conpany 7

Debts ledger, a Scrapbook, a Bills Payable Ledger, and check stub

books.

The provenance of the collection is unknown.

c Hallack and Howard Lumber Company 8

SERIES DESCRIPTION

Series File Folders

Correspondence ....•••....••.•••........••••........•••.. 1-31

Legal & Financial Oocuments ••.•..•.•.•••.•••.•••••.•.•• 32-40

Series Book Numbers

Sales Ledgers ...•.••........••••....•..•••••••...••••••. 1-51

Order Books •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 52-67

Account Ledgers •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 68-74

Letterpress Books •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 7 5-8 5

Invoice Books •••.•..••..••.....•...•....•..•••••....... 86-92

Employee Time Books .••.•••••.••••.••••••••••••••••••••• 9 3-9 6

Estimate Ledgers ..•••..••...•••••..•••••••••.•..•••••• 97-103

Miscellaneous Ledgers •...•••••••••••...••.•••..••.••• 104-120

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COLLECTION CONTENTS

-FF t DESCRIPTION DATE

A Historical Information, Colorado State Archives Documents, photocopies

correspondence (1882-1886)

1 B 1882-1883 2 B 1884-1886 3 L.H. Butcher 1884-1886 4 c 1882-1883 5 0 1883 6 0 1886 7 F 1882-1883 8 F 1886

9 G 1882-1883 10 G 1886 11 H 1882-1883 12 H 1885-1886 13 J 1885-1886 14 K 1882-1883 15 K 1886 16 L 1883 17 L 1886 18 M 1883 19 M 1885-1886 20 0 1883 21 p 1882-1883 22 p 1886 23 R 1883 24 R 1885-1886 25 s 1882-1883 26 s 1886 27 T 1883 28 T 1884-1886

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( =I w~.~m~1>-~~ m Hallack and Howard lumber Company

FFf DESCRIPTION DATE

29 w 1882-1883 30 w 1884-1886 31 y 1883

Leqal and Financial Documents (1883-1960)

32

33 34

35

36

37

38 39 40

Abrahamson Lumber Company 1956-1960 Broadway Lumber Company 1958-1959 Colorado Mill & Lumber Company 1957-1959 Craig Mountain Lumber Company 1949 craig Mountain Lumber Company, minutes 1949-1950 Craig Mountain Railway Company 1953-1960 J. Wesley Accola, will 1950-1953 Bills 1886 Applications & Licenses for traveling salesmen 1883-1886

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_.,.""""" ___ ,..,.,.,,.4 __ ... _,. __________ g_ Hallack and Howard LU!ber COII'f)any

BOUND VOLUMES (1875-1938)

BOOR I DESCRIPTION

Salas Ladqers (1875-1892)

1 2 3

4

5

6

7

8

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10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales Ledger

January 1875-January 1888 August 1875-March 1876 January 1977-December 1891 November 1879-February 1881 October 1880-January 1881 October 1880-May 1881 October 1880-June 1881 May 1881-0ctober 1881 May 1881-November 1881 May 1881-November 1881 May 1881-March 1882 May 1881-December 1882 October 1881-December 1882 November 1881-May 1882 November 1881-May 1882 November 1881-December 1883 January 1882- July 1882 January 1882-December 1884 April 1882-June 1883 May 1882-September 1883 May 1882-November 1882 August 1882-April 1883 November 1882-January 1883 January 1883-May 1883 January 1883-May 1883 January 1883-November 1883 January 1883-December 1884 January 1883-March 1885 January 1883-January 1888 March 1883-September 1884

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BOOlt i DESCRIPTION DATE

31 Sales Ledger May 1883-February 1884 32 Sales Ledger June 1883-March 1884 33 Sales Ledger June 1883-September 1884 34 Sales Ledger November 1883-September 1884 35 Sales Ledger November 1883-September 1884 36 Sales Ledger February 1884-December 1884 37 Sales Ledger March 1884-December 1884 38 Sales Ledger August 1884-May 1886 39 Sales Ledger September 1884-August 1885 40 Sales Ledger December 1884-November 1885 41 Sales Ledger April 1885-April 1886 42 Sales Ledger August 1885-July 1886 43 Sales Ledger February 1887-November 1887 44 Sales Ledger February 1887-June 1888 45 Sales Ledger May 1887-April 1888 46 Sales Ledger November 1887-May 1889 47 Sales Ledger January 1888-June 1888 48 Sales Ledger January 1888-June 1888 49 Sales Ledger February 1888-March 1889 50 Sales Ledger June 1891-September 1896 51 Sales Ledger May 1892-June 1892

order Books (1881-1888)

52 Order Book February 1881-0ctober 1881 53 Order Book February 1881-May 1882 54 Order Book July 1881-December 1881 55 Order Book April 1882-February 1883 56 order Book May 1882-0ctober 1882 57 Order Book September 1882-January 1883 58 Order Book October 1882-December 1882 59 Order Book January 1883-May 1883 60 Order Book January 1883-May 1883 61 Order Book July 1883-May 1884 62 Order Book May 1884-April 1885

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BOOK i

63 64 65 66 67

DESCRIPTION

order Book Order Book Order Book Order Book Order Book

Account Ledgers (1865-1886)

68 69 70 71 72 73 74

Account Ledger Account Ledger Account Ledger Account Ledger Account Ledger Account Ledger Account Ledger

Letterpress Books (1880-1887)

75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85

Letterpress Book Letterpress Book Letterpress Book Letterpress Book

Letterpress Book Letterpress Book Letterpress Book Letterpress Book Letterpress Book Letterpress Book Letterpress Book

Invoice Books (1880-1887)

86 87

88 89

Invoice Books Invoice Books Invoice Books Invoice Books

Halleck and Howard Luar c~

DATE

October 1884-0ctober 1885 June 1886-Auqust 1887 July 1886-Auqust 1887 January 1887-June 1887 June 1887-February 1888

January 1865-December 1865 July 1874-January 1877 January 1880-0ecember 1880 November 1881-May 1883 January 1883-February 1884 May 1884-July 1885 January 1886-0ecember 1886

May 1880-July 1881 May 1881-January 1882 July 1881-0ecember 1881 July 1881-May 1882 January 1882-September 1882 May 1882-0ctober 1882 March 1885-March 1886 February 1886-December 1886 October 1887-Auqust 1888 December 1887-September 1888 1899

1880-1881

1881-1882 January 1882-0ctober 1882 January 1883-0ecember 1883

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BOOK f

90 91 92

4 s::;;;:;::a:J(I(IC

DESCRIPTION

Invoice Books Invoice Books Invoice Books

Employee Time Books (1881-1888)

93 94 95 96

Employee Time Book Employee Time Book Employee Time Book Employee Time Book

Estimates Ledgers (1884-1888)

97 98 99 100 101 102 103

Estimates Ledger Estimates Ledger Estimates Ledger Estimates Ledger Estimates Ledger Estimates Ledger Estimates Ledger

Miscellaneous Ledgers (1881-1938)

104 105 106 107 108

Index, (accounts)

Index Index, ("To Ledger B") Bad Debts Ledger Scrapbook, re: money standard issue

109 "Notes & Bills

110 111

112

Receivable" Bills Payable Ledger Merchandise Received Ledger Merchandise Received Ledger

Hall.ck and Howard Ll.lllber C0111p11ny

DATE

April 1886-December 1886 January 1887-April 1887 May 1887-December 1887

March 1881-September 1882 March 1884-March 1885 May 1886-April 1887 June 1887-0ctober 1888

March 1884-November 188 March 1886-April 1887 July 1, 1886 July 1886-August 1887 April 1888-0ctober 1888 July 1888-0ctober 1888 October 1888-December 1888

(undated) (undated) (undated) February 1889

(misc. dates)

June 1881-May 1883 October 1881-December 1882

June 1881-September 1883

September 1883-March 1887

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BOOR • DESCRIPTION DATE

113 Merchandise Received Ledger October 1883-August 1887

114 Merchandise Received Ledger February 1884-September 1886

115 Merchandise Received Ledger July 1916

116 Inventory Ledger October 1883 117 Inventory Ledger December 1889 118 Check stubs July 1887-0ctober 1887 119 Check stubs July 1890-November 1891 120 Legal Documents Ledger October 1915-December 1938

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