"Operation Willow Glen"

I\TATURALLY, most of us are hesitant to probe into I \ anybody's financial affairs, so when we were down San Jose way covering the recent grand opening of Willow Glen Lumber Company's big new showroom, we merely asked general manager Bill Mitchell what he figured his total attendance ran for the three-day opening.

We received somewhat of a shock when the affable manager replied: "Well, we took in just over $15,000, some $13,500 cash and the rest in credit card purchases. Figuring a buck a head I'd say we easily had 15,000 visitors during the three days."

As you con sea, the grand opening of Willow Glcn Lumber Compony's 8,400 squcre feot 3lotc, held July l4-I5, oilrccted o lot of oifonlion--{s witneas fhe cctivity in the porking lor. Righr: 3ol Sonfllippo (in ruir) is dwsrfed os he rtondc nesr one ride of huge 3(X)-cor porking lot, Viewed in it3 entiroty, porking lot rescmbler o londing field (oi leost for propdriven oircraft!)

By MAX COOK

One quick look around the brand-new Willow Glen plant would convince anyone thatBill's estimate was probably conservative. One of the most noteworthy assets of the new layout is its parking lot, one of the largest-if not the largest-parking area we've ever seen at a yard operation. Buiit to accommodate over 300 autos, the parking lot is completely blacktopped and looks just like a big shopping center lot, complete with marked lanes and attendant ! \Arillow Glen's huge grand opening was held on July 14-16 to coincide with the firm's 29th birthday. A special "prevue" for the customers of the firm rvas staged Thursday evening', July 13, comqlete- with catered refreshments. No evening program was held during the three day opening, the store hours Friday and Saturday running 9 to 5, and Sunday 10 to 4. Over $1,000 in prizes were awarded at regular intervals throughout the open house and winners were required to be present to win. First prize was a $475 AM-FM console.

Willow GlenLumber Company was established by Arthur S. NlcKinnev on Auguit l-, 7932, in the then incorporated town of Willow Glen (since 1937 a part of San Jose). In 194$ McKinney sold Willow Glen Lumber to a group of San Jose businessmen headed by Ray Sandkuhle, who prior to buying the McKinney yard were owners of Victory Lumber Company, then located on Willow Glen's present site.

At the time of the hase, Willow Glen Lumber Com- trme the purchase, Wrllow pany was located on the site of what is now Kincaid Lumber Company, located at 720 Lincoln Avenue. Shortlv after the Shortly after Lompany, rocateo /zu Llncoln purchase, Willow Glen Lumber was moved toits present location. the name Victorv Lumber sivins awav to Willow location, Victory giving away Glen Lumber Company.

Present officers of the corporation include : Sal M. Sanfilippo, president; Dr. S. V. Campise, vice-president; and Sam Della Maggiore, treasurer. Della Maggiore is also a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

Active manag'ement of the firm, however, rests in the capable hands of Bill Mitchell, who has been associated withWillolv Glen for more than 10 years. Bill's assistant manag'er is Dick Mendence, also a veteran of the Willow Glen organization.

Besides running an all 'round do-it yourself shopping pavilion and building materials one-stop shop operation, Willow Glen is also active in fence contracting in the area. The firm regularly employs some 30 men in the field in its fencing division, 80 to n% of this work being done for tract developers in the Santa Clara Valley region. Other than fencing, however, Willow Glen's yard and store business runs almost 1.OO% with the shoulder trade and small remodeling contractors.

The owners and members of Willow Glen Lumber Company are to be complimented on the development of an unusually fine one-stop building materials center second to none in the area. One has but to remember the former modest showroom andlayout replaced by the new to realize what a tremendous amount of caoital and labor have gone into the project-"Operation Wiilow Glen."

Grohom Lumber Gompony, Sqnto Mqrio, to Glose

Ifomer Graham, owner of Graham Lumber Company, 2090 South Broadway, Santa Maria, recently announced that he plans to retire from the retail lumber business when his lease expires on the first of the year. Graham, who has operated the yard for the past seven years, is currently liquidating his inventory of building materials in preparation to closing.

Emprise LumberGompony to NewAddress

Emprise Lumber Company has notified the trade of its new mailing address at 13685 San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo, California. Bill Leonard continues as general manager of the concern and the 'phone number remains the sameBEacon 5-3707.

The Wisdom of Solomon

ft was in an English city, the place a local theatre. In the play the king, old and infirm, had two sons, and was debating which should succeed him. He paced up and down the stage, weary and troubled. He asked aloud: "On which of my two sons should I bestow my crown ?"

And a Cockney voice from the gallery called out, "Why not arf a crown apiece, Govner?"

Ingersoll on Childish Loughter

"Strike with hand of fire, O weird musician, thy harp strung with Apollo's golden hair; fill the vast cathedral aisle with symphonies sweet and dim, deft toucher of the organ keys; blow, bugler, blow until thy silver notes do touch the skies with moonlit waves, and charm the lovers wandering on the vine-clad hills; but know your sweetest notes are discords all, compared with childhood's htppy laugh; the laugh thatfills the eyes rvith light and every heart with joy; on,rippling river of life, thou art the boundary line between beasts and men, and every wayward wave of thine doth drown some fiend of care; Oh laughter, divine laughter of joy, make dimples enough in the cheeks of the world, to catch and hold and glorify, all tears of grief ."

H'is Wqs Reolly ATop Line

A party of traveling men seated in the lobby of the hotel, got to bragging about the firmsthey worked for, the goods they sold, each trying to out-talk the others. Finally, a man in the corner who had notyet been heard from, spoke up. He said:

"No house in the country, I am proud to say, has as many people pushing its line of goods than mine."

"What do you sell ?" he was asked.

"Baby carriages," he ansrvered.

No Honest Working Girl

The scene was in a restaurant, The lights were shining fair, A girl sat at a table, And two men were sitting there. Said one man to the girl "Let's have a little drink, or two, And say, kid, take a little booze, It never will hurt you."

But she was an honest working girl,

And quick came her reply, And this it was her answer, As a tear bedimmed her eye: "No honest working girl don't drink no booze, I'm sorry that I have for to refuse, I may not get a cheer, But I'm going to stick to beer, For no honest working girl don't drink no booze."

Eosy Enough

It's easy to grin, When you're making a win And wear a big smile on your phiz, But the guy that's worth while Is the one that can smile, When the other guy's getting the biz,

Inregriry

No business house can hope for success ifit is not known to be dependable; if its statements cannot be accepted without qualification; if its prices are not honestly adjusted. So the business man who tries for success, finds this preeminently forced upon him: IIe must be a man of integrity.

Hoo-Hoo-Eftes BeginFoll Seqson

Hoo-Hoo-Ette Club #1 of Los Angeles held its first meeting of the 196l-62 season at the Ralfles Restaurant on September 11, with new president Petty Mottola presiding.

Feature of the program was the showing of the Telephone Company film, "Seconds for Survival."

A blanket was raffied ofi, and the money realized will be used for the Ramona High School girls' project. A number of blankets and articles of clothing were turned in for this project.

The club will celebrate its tenth anniversary at the October 9 meeting, to be held at the Nikabob, scene of the founding meeting. At that time there were nine girls present, plus Ole May and Joe F'itzpatrick representing the Hoo-Hoo clubs.

From a membership of nine the club has grown to nearly ninety, with eight other clubs in existence. Of the original nine members, four are active in the Club today, and one has transferred to the Valley Club. It is hoped that as many as possible of the first year members will be present for the October 9 meeting.