Charles E Carhart arrived in Wayne, Nebraska in 1910 from Canton, South Dakota where he had lived for one year. After Charles located in Wayne, his brother Benjamin joined in and they operated a hardware store on the east side of Main Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets and then opened a second hardware store in Emerson, NE. The hardware business was sold in 1919 to Lloyd McNatt and was operated by two generations of the McNatt family.

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       In 1921 the two Carhart families purchased a lumber yard in Wayne, NE at 105 Main Street from Franklin Philleo and John Harington and established the very first Carhart Lumber Co. location. (Which still operates today as the company headquarters)

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Charles and his son Ralph and Charles’ brother Benjamin with his son John Braden Carhart began operating the lumber yard and were joined in 1923 by John C. Carhart.  Ralph, Braden, Benjamin were involved with sales and John C. did estimating, accounting, and advertising with Charles. 

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       The 1920’s were a rewarding period for the Lumber Company.  The 1930’s arrived with more trying circumstances.  Charles looked around the area and began to branch the lumber company by purchasing yards owned by larger multi-yard companies who were operating on leverage and were ready to sell stores to raise cash.  

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       Robert (Bob) Carhart joined the company in 1957 and served as General Manager of Carhart Lumber from the early 80’s until his retirement in 2001.

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     Scott & Brenda Carhart are the current owners and operators for all Carhart locations. Carhart Lumber- Wayne, Norfolk, Hartington, Bloomfield, Tilden, Neligh, O’Neill, Burwell and North Platte along with Carhart Kitchen & Bath in Pierce and recently added divisions; Carhart Interior Designs and Carhart Insulation.

    Petersen Lumber opened in 1974 and was a well established lumberyard in Burwell, NE when the Carhart family purchased the business in December 2017. The transition to Carhart Lumber was fairly simple and the local staff was very supportive of the change. The current staff includes; Bob Kaslon (Sales/ Past Manager), Mel McBride (Manager), Jordan McBride (Sales & Delivery), Tresa Miller (Office Assistant), Tyrell Smith (Inside Sales), Joseph Urbanovsky (Yard Associate). 

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          Every employee has been crucial to the success of the company.  Every customer has been important.  Carhart Lumber wants to thank you all for the last 100 years and looks forward to serving you in the years to come.