The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-06-22
Treat, Shaffer & Co.
(BY R. KENNETH EVANS)

The history of the development of the Treat,
Shafer Lumber Company is the history of the devel-
Opment of Hays City from the days of the establish
ment of the old Fort Hays protection against de-
predations and to protect the construction camps of
the UnOn Pacific railroad company when that line
was being builded across the Kansas prairies
There is probably not a business institution in
Hays today that has been such important factor in
the building of the present city as since 1877 the re-
cord time of its establishment (and it is believed that
yard existed here even before that time from which
this has grown), the lumber and building mater
ials going into many of the buildings constructed was
secured from this yard.
The plant was originally established by F. W.
Kingsbury & Bro at time when those sturdy
pioneers first visited Western Kansas.
Year by year has seen this institution advance
and grow abreast of the times constantly furnishing
materials, credits and assistance to those who were
DESTROYS of constructing their own homes, business
houses and other buildings Constantly working for
the development and advancement ofHays and West
ern Kansas. Supporting every meritorious for
this development and today it is recognized as one
of the leading business institutions and is playing
important part in the present building program
which is the most constructive and extensive being
carried out by any city in the state of Kansas.
Treat Shaffer and Company is today under the
l.
years in Hays and who is an experienced lumber
man. He has been associated with the company for
twenty-five years and his father F. Havemann, be-
fore him, identified with the company in it's bust
activities and making Western Kansas history
for forty years It is institution with years of
perence and reputation behind it and the type of in
stitution which has been responsible for the building
of the enviabe reputation possessed by Hays
commercial and distributing center. Throughout the
history of the company a credit and asset to the
city, county and state with the financial gain
ondary consideration.
There is some contention regarding historic
dates but many claim that this yard of the old
est in the county if not the oldest It has been under
the ownership of TreatShafer since 1884 and is by
far the oldest business institution in Hays from point
of being under continuous management.
The yard today is equipped to furnish any class
fbuilding materials that might be desired for
class of construction work. All lumber handled in
tensve buying connection which has been established
by the company makes it possible to have wide
diversified line of materials hand at all times The
stock includes brick thing, plaster lime cement,
stucco, lumber, etc. One Ford truck and one Repub
lie truck are maintained for delivery purposes and
four employed.
One important branch or department of this
business is the handling of coal for fuel The stock
of coal from the various coal mines of the East and
West Prompt deliveries of coal is feature of the
business.
To those contemplating construction work, this
summer cognizance of the years of standing and high
reputation of this yard should be taken into consider
alton in letting the contract for supplying the mater
ials.