Sontag Lumber Company 1902
Harold Sontag, Skinny Hartneck,
Bill Meyers,Don Sontag, B.B. Sontag (Photo from Heron Lake Centennial Book)
Sontag Lumber Company 1983 Warren Sontag, Ron Doherty, Gary Abels (Photo from Heron Lake Centennial Book)
The Sontag family name has been associated with lumber in Heron Lake for over 90 years. But as of June 1, 1994, the lumber years in Heron Lake will be known as the Heron Lake Lumber Company. Warren Sontag, the third generation of Sontags, has decided to retire and sold the business to Allen Jensen of Heron Lake.
“I want to be able to travel and have some leisure time for my wife, Pat and myself,” said Warren.
So come Wednesday morning, look for a new face at the yard, Allen Jensen. Warren will be staying on with Jensen until this fall to help him get acquainted with the business.
It is not known who started the first lumber yard in Heron Lake, but coming into an area of prairie with settlers arriving and sod houses to replace, it must have been a flourishing business from the start.
Records dating back to 1880 were found stored in one of the Sontag buildings some years ago. Among prices listed for building materials were: common boards – $13 per thousand, dimension – $14 per thousand, dressed siding – $16 per thousand, dressed flooring – $18 and $32 per thousand, and wood shingles – $1 and $3 per square.
In 1902, B.B. Sontag, grandfather of Warren Sontag, began Sontag Lumber. Then in 1908, Nimerfroh, which was located across the street from Sontag, sold his business to B.B. Sontag. Upon purchasing the business from Nimerfroh, Sontag Lumber became a corporation with close to 40 stockholders originally. Later that same year, a yard was started in Wilder and then in 1909 negotiations were held and an additional Sontag Lumber yard was added to the corporation and located in Okabena. B.B. Sontag’s salary was set at $90 per month as general manager for the three-yard company.
In 1924, the stockholders approved the purchase of the Peterson Lumber Company. On June 9, 1925, B.B. Sontag died. Upon his death, A.D. Sontag, his eldest child and Warren’s father, took over as manager of the Sontag Lumber Company.
As building projects in the area lessened, financial difficulties fell upon the company. Stockholders decided to close the yard in Wilder in November of 1934.
During the war years government restrictions prevailed and it was noted that the lumber yard was the largest payer of property taxes in Heron Lake.
Until 1970, Sontag Lumber Company handled coal. “It used to come in by the box car- loads,” says Warren. “George Windler was thought to be one of the fastest men in the community to scoop off a carload of coal into a bin.”
During those early years, the yard didn’t have any equipment to make deliveries. “People either came in to pick it up themselves or we had a “dramond” deliver their coal,” commented Warren. “I believe it was in the early 50’s when we first purchased a truck for deliveries.”
In the fall of 1955, Warren L. Sontag became associated with the Sontag Lumber Company and became manager of the yard in 1960.
In 1962, the yard at Okabena was closed. After 45 years in business, A.D. “Don” Sontag died in January of 1969.
One of Warren’s earliest recollections is his father telling him about the safe (located in the front office of Sontag’s office and belonging to the judge of probates) being delivered to the yard by means of a brand-new Studebacker wagon and a team of four horses. “So you know how long ago that was,” chuckled Warren.
The scale to determine the pounds of coal a customer purchased was located on the sidewalk.
“Another big item was cement,’ states Warren. “Everyone mixed their own cement because there were no ready mix plants.” He also commented on the cloth bags that the cement came in. Each was returnable and could be used over again.
“Back in the early days, very little plywood was used. All boards were used for sheathing and roofs,” says Warren. “Strandboard or Blandex is used a great deal today for sheathing.”
Lumber was transported by boxcar loads. “Most often we would split loads with other yards in the area,” said Warren. “Today that would be very difficult because we are so dependent upon suppliers who bring only a unit or two of lumber as we need it.” stressed Warren.
When asked about Warren coming back to the family business he chuckles and says, “I wasn’t planning on it but after the war, it seemed like a logical thing to do.”
When attending college at the University of Minnesota, Warren studied lumber merchandising and construction in the school of forestry. The course provided information on the different types of wood and its uses. Warren also took several architectural and business courses while in college. His initial intention was to work with a wholesaler instead of the family business.
Warren and his wife, Pat, were married in 1955 in San Diego, California. Pat, a Florida native, was living with relatives in California at the time. “We met at an officer’s tea dance,” laughs Warren. “But I don’t think they served any tea at those dances.” chimed in Pat.
Pat lived on an island called Coronado. Warren said, “I would take the ferry back and forth to visit her. It wasn’t so bad until there was a strike among the workers of the ferry. Then I would have to drive all the way around to get to the road leading to Coronado – about 28 miles.”
Warren & Pat have four children, Neil and his wife, Nancy, who live in Minneapolis. The oldest of the Sontag daughters is Lisa who lives in San Diego. Gwen and her husband, Dave, live in Escondieo, California and are the parents of three children, Rachel, 6, Sarah, 5, and Benjamin Warren, almost two. The youngest of the Sontag children is Lori who lives in LaJolla.
Warren’s favorite part of the business is working with the paint. “If people come in and want to make a change, I know what to add to make the right color,” said Warren. “In fact, I wouldn’t mind doing that on a part time basis after I leave here.”
The business hasn’t changed too much over the years except for the addition of window treatments, floor coverings, and maybe a few more hardware items.
Both Warren and Pat have been very involved in the community – serving on several boards. “I helped get the local library started. In fact, I served as the first chairperson on the county library,” said Pat.
Each has donated a great deal of time in helping the community of Heron Lake flourish.
The Sontag Lumber Company has been blessed with loyal employees and loyal customers. This undoubtedly explains why it was the oldest continuously run business in Heron Lake under the same ownership.
On November 20, 2003, Warren Sontag left this world for a better home with the same quiet dignity, grace and courage he displayed in his daily life. He will be greatly missed by his family, many friends and the communities of Heron Lake and Okabena.
Warren Sontag and Sontag Lumber 
