ponents, deck and stall materials, fencing, trim, moldings, mulch, woodchips, wood shavings and sawdust,” says Mike. “Our ParkMat product is a used as a ground cover in playgrounds.” The company also offers a host of value-added remanufacturing ser- vices, such as beveling, notching, drilling and contour sawing. All in all, the business is a far cry from what it was back in 1959, when Laura’s grandfather Robert, and his friend, Bert Abbott invested in a travelling sawmill. In the beginning, the two tobacco farmers had no aspirations beyond making a bit of money during the winter months. Over time, howev-
er, they began to see the potential of the business. Soon, Abbott and Townsend’s lumber was being used in everything from furniture manu- facturing to the new Toronto Sub- way system. In 1970, they built a stationary sawmill near Glen Meyer. After a devastating fire in 1984 razed the fa- cility, Robert and Bert’s sons, David and Murray, made the decision to rebuild at a new location. Less than a year later, Abbott and Townsend Lumber opened on Jackson Side Road and Highway 3, just east of Tillsonburg. By the late 1980s, the Abbott fam- ily had moved on to other ventures, and Laura’s father, David, was in
sole control of the enterprise, now known as simply Townsend Lum- ber. The next 25 years were a time of steady growth and expansion. “My dad’s entrepreneurial vision definitely made the business what it is today,” says Laura. As for the future, Mike and Laura are optimistic. “We want to be here for many years to come,” says Mike. “It’s important to us personally, but it’s also important for the community around us.” “My dad still likes to come in and see how we’re doing,” says Laura with a smile, “but overall, I think he knows the business is in good hands.”
(Left) David Townsend seated with his family around him in 2015. From left to right, son Andrew, wife Brenda and daughter Laura. They also have another daughter Kristen (not pictured). (Above) The expansive 134 acre Townsend Lumber property just outside of Tillsonburg produces 24 million board feet of lumber per year. Sawing, drying, millling and finishing are all done on one site.
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