A Century of Service: How Attica Lumber Built a 100-Year Post-Frame Legacy

Featured in Frame Building News (August 2026 Edition)

In an era dominated by big-box retailers and rapid corporate consolidation, reaching a centennial milestone is a feat few independent business owners ever witness. Tucked away in the small rural village of Attica, Ohio—a community of fewer than 1,000 residents—Attica Lumber Company has quietly achieved exactly that.

Recently profiled by Frame Building News, Attica Lumber is celebrating 100 years of serving the post-frame industry. It’s a story of grit, deep community trust, and a relentless willingness to evolve across four generations of family leadership.

From Coal and Timber to Post-Frame Pioneers

The company’s roots trace back to 1925, when founder R.F. Cook launched a modest lumberyard and coal supply operation, leveraging the town’s local rail access. In the booming post-WWI economy, local farmers and builders desperately needed materials, and Cook established a reputation for reliability.

As the decades marched on, leadership passed seamlessly through the family tree:

Company Founded

1925 R.F. Cook establishes Attica Lumber, combining a passion for farming, lumber, and local building needs.

The Second Generation

1954 After serving in World War II, Cook’s daughter and son-in-law, Marjorie and Fritz Miller, take the reins.

Navigating Volatility

1976 Steve Stanek (Marjorie’s son-in-law) steps in, guiding the company through the high-inflation markets of the late ’70s and ’80s.

The Modern Era

2009 Josh Stanek, Steve’s son and the current fourth-generation owner, joins the company during the teeth of the housing crisis.

To survive the lean years of the subprime crisis, the family leaned into unconventional billboard marketing, early digital outreach, and a hyper-focus on recruiting top-tier builders to revitalize the brand.

Specializing in the “Winning Mindset” of Post-Frame

While the yard sells traditional building supplies, post-frame construction—specifically pole barn packaging and design—ultimately became the engine of Attica Lumber’s modern growth. Today, the company manufactures its own custom trusses on-site and designs and supplies roughly 100 custom pole barns every year. Their footprint has expanded across 15 to 20 counties in northwest Ohio.

Attica Lumber Celebrates 100 Years of Serving the Post-Frame Industry | Frame Building News

https://framebuildingnews.com/attica-lumber-celebrates-100-years-of-serving-the-post-frame-industry/