Oneida County lumber business navigates pandemic to celebrate 150th year in business

PARIS, N.Y. — Lincoln Davies Building Supply has had to adapt after 150 years in business, and the recent pandemic is just another example of how the hardware and lumber business was flexible enough to make it through.

Founded by David Davies in 1872 as a general store, the business has evolved a lot over the years, says current owner Ed Jones, the great-great grandson of the founder. At times, the store, sold groceries, and it operated a feed mill for a while, he says, but throughout the 1970s and 1980s as dairy farms disappeared, the store evolved into the hardware and lumber store it remains today.

In that time, it grew from just two buildings into the seven that stand today — the main store, a storage building, and five buildings in the lumberyard that store materials. Lincoln Davies is located at 8689 Summit Road in the town of Paris in Oneida County.

Jones purchased the business from his parents in 2005 and things were going along just fine. That is until early 2020.

“So, the pandemic hit,” he recalls. Jones and his family had just finished up two quick trips to Florida — one for an Orgill trade show and another to Walt Disney World — when the government declared a pandemic emergency and society began to shut down.

“We basically closed the doors of the hardware store and did curbside,” Jones says. Lincoln Davies Building Supply also reduced its business hours to Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Everyone was stuck at home, he says, so he didn’t see a need to be open on the weekends.

“Contractors didn’t start projects at residences, and that’s our bread and butter,” Jones says of the pandemic’s early days. With that in mind, he only ordered two tractor-trailer loads of inventory that spring instead of his normal seven.

Then the stimulus checks began going out and everyone started tackling projects around their home, he says. “I wish I had ordered 20 tractor-trailer loads!”

After a surprisingly good year, Jones says he tried to be more prepared heading into 2021 and spent a lot of money to have inventory on hand.

“And the next year, everybody got their freedom,” he quips. But in 2022, economic changes like higher gas prices, inflation, and interest rates have stifled some of the do-it-yourselfers, but business is steady at around the same pace it was in 2021, he says. Jones did not disclose sales figures.

Area contractors are all busy in spite of the higher interest rates, and the business is doing well, he says. “I’m happy where we’re at right now.” 

The company competes with a number of local businesses as well as several big-box home-improvement stores, but Jones says there are a few things that help Lincoln Davies to stand out.

First is by having inventory in stock and easily accessible, he says. His prices are also comparable to big-box prices. “We’re known for our high-quality building materials,” Jones adds.

Finally, he says, Lincoln Davies Building Supply tries to make it really easy and efficient for customers to get what they need. They can order and pay for all the materials inside the main store and then drive through the lumber yard for loading. “You handle it once instead of twice,” Jones notes.

Looking to the future, Jones says the company will host its usual fall-festival weekends starting in September to help note the 150th anniversary. The event features a 13-acre corn maze and usually has offerings such as food, entertainment, and things like tractor shows. 

The business was also recently honored by New York State Assemblyman Brian Miller by being placed on the state’s Historic Business Preservation Registry, which recognizes businesses that have been in business for at least 50 years and had a significant impact on the community.

Jones’ middle and youngest son both work in the business, and his middle son has expressed an interest in taking over eventually as the next generation.