Hqndsome Blqnchcrrd

Yord Rises from Ashes

Several thousands of San Fernando Valley homeowners and builders, members of the Southern California building materials trade and guests turned out for a gala reopening of the new Blanchard Lumber Company offices and yard recently, when officials of the pioneer lumber concern celebrated at an Open l{ouse the rebuilding of the property which was destroyed in a disastrous fire in April 1954.

The beautiful, new multi-purpose plant at 5360 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, Calif., now houses offices and sales rooms, lumber storage sheds and a modern remanufacturing mill. The 870o-foot main building, completely modern in design and functional planning, is constructed entirely of wood.

When the killing fire swept through the retail yard last year, the Blanchards looked over the charred remains and determined to rebuild from the ashes one of the most up-to-date, utilitarian and attractive stores and yards in the country. How well they succeeded was apparent at every turn in the handsome new showcase of building materials, and each of the Open House visitors made it a particular point to tell the Blanchard family so at the reopening a few weeks ago.

One of the most striking examples of the utility of construction is the use of the store's walls as "silent salesmen." The walls are paneled with more than two dozen species of hardwood and softwood paneling, as well as plywood, siding and fiberboard. A11 are carried in the yard's stock. A careful blending of darks and lights in the color tones makes the interior both attractive and useful for the sales personnel.

Founded by R. W. and W. A. Blanchard

The Blanchard Lumber Company was founded in 191 1 by R. W. and W. A. Blanchard with two retail lumber- property just rebuilt. This progressive retail firm has been instrumental in the Valley's growth during the past 44 years and has supplied a large part of the lumber and building materials for its homes, churches, stores and factories.

R.

The new Blanchard yard occupies a city-square block in the heart of North Hollywood. It is the oldest retail yard under the same management, in the same location, in the entire famous Valley. When Blanchard's started in 1911, lumber was still being delivered by horse-drawn wagons.

Today, the operation of this continually growing building materials business is still managed by the same family and one of the original owners. R. W. Blanchard, Sr., is president and active head of the firm. W. J. Blanchard, his nephew, son of the other first partner, W. A. Blanchard, is vice-president and operates the sister Burltank, Calif., yard. R. W., Jr., and Lemoine Blanchard, sons of the president, are active in the management of the North Hollyrvood yard.

"We have grown with the San Fernando Valley

AFTER THE FIRE-To build one of the most qttrqctive ond ulililariqn reloil yords in fhe counfry wos lhe gool of the Blsnchord lumber Co. How well rhey succeeded is shown in these photos of rhe rebuilding. The Blonchord men qre :hown in front of rhe beouriful new 3lorc (upper lefi) ond before rhe modern ycrd rign (lower righr). The olher scenes show the interior of the hsndsome retdfl slore, in which more fhon two dozen species of wood ore used os "silent sqlesmen." Note how shelves ond islond dirploys blend with fhe modern decor.