Business, Government Legal News from throughout WVHuntington's Duncan Box Is now under new management

By JAMES E. CASTO

For The State Journal

HUNTINGTON — One of the city's oldest businesses has a new owner. After 117 years, the Duncan family has sold Duncan Box & Lumber Co., a fixture in the Central City neighborhood for more than 100 years.

Norman Taylor said he purchased Duncan Box in a joint venture with his brother Mike and sister, Teresa Klaiber. 

Neither Taylor nor Jim Duncan would reveal the purchase price.

"Let's just say it was a good deal for everybody," Taylor said.

Duncan said he was 66 years old and not in good health, so he and the other members of his family had decided it was time to sell.

Taylor is the vice president of Taylor Iron & Metal Inc., a Huntington recycling center where his father is president.

"We believe we have a niche business here that the big box lumber retailers can't fill," Taylor said. "Over the years the Duncans have built a loyal customer base that we hope to capitalize on."

Taylor said Scott Adams, formerly employed by 84 Lumber, is now general manager at Duncan Box. Jim Duncan has agreed to stay on during the transition.

Long known for its custom millwork, Duncan Box in recent years has mainly relied on its hardware business and lumber sales.

"We hope to have the mill back up and running in the spring and again start turning out quality millwork," Taylor said.  

The company was founded in 1895 by M.L. Duncan and his brother-in-law, J.W. Graham, and has operated for 117 years in the same location. Graham left the business after only a few months, and generations of the Duncan family have operated it ever since.

Originally the company was named the Beader Box & Manufacturing Co., and it primarily built boxes, crates and industrial pallets. Soon it entered the building supply, custom millwork and cabinetwork field. In 1917, the name was changed to Duncan Box & Lumber.