Dukes Lumber Company celebrates 50 years of business July 27 and 28

Dukes Lumber Company of Laurel is celebrating its 50th year of being in business by throwing a 50th Anniversary Celebration/Building Materials Yard Sale Blowout from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday, July 27, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, July 28, at both Dukes Lumber Company in Laurel and Dukes Lumber & Home Center in Seaford.

Refreshments, including hot dogs and sodas, will be provided at both locations. Free hats, shirts and other giveaways will also be part of this special event. Customers can spin the wheel and get discounts up to 50 percent off orders.

Dukes Lumber was founded by Silas "Pop-Pop" Dukes in 1962. He was born in 1909 and grew up near Laurel. As a young man, he worked as a farmer during the growing season and built chicken houses and agricultural buildings in the winter months. He founded the Oak Orchard Community Church in 1963, where he preached as a lay minister for more than 30 years.

In 1962, Silas and his two sons, Ross and Dale decided to open the retail lumber store to meet the needs of the community. In 1972 they expanded and built another site in Seaford known as Dukes Lumber and Home Center, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Together, Dukes Lumber and Dukes Lumber and Home Center have provided area homes and businesses with countless quantities of lumber, cabinetry, vinyl and hardwood flooring, metal and asphalt roofing, doors, windows and siding.

In 1996 Silas passed away, leaving Dale and his two sons Rusty and Scott to operate the two locations. Today, the business employs 50-plus people. Things have changed over the years but Pop-Pop's philosophy of "Treat each customer like you would want to be treated" has remained. He also coined the phrase "A little bit out of the way, but a whole lot less to pay."

Dukes Lumber in Laurel is located off Route 9 on Dukes Lumber Road. Dukes Lumber & Home Center is just north of Walmart on Route 13 in Seaford.