Construction Reinvented.
In Its 100th Year of Business, Barden & Robeson Company Launches New Line of Log Homes
One has to change with the times to survive and prosper. Need proof? Consider the Barden and Robeson Company (Middleport, NY), the parent company to the successful panelized home divisions—Barden Homes and Barden Building Systems. The company’s long history serves as example of skillfully adapting to changing economic realities. 
Started in 1909 by George L. Barden and Roscoe J. Robeson, the company’s first factory-made products were spokes and hubs for wagon wheels. Over the intervening years, the company went on to craft bushel baskets, baby furniture and ammunition boxes during World War II.
At the Middleport plant, postwar efforts were centered on pre-engineered and panelized homes by Barden & Robeson.
As this business grew in the postwar years, the bushel basket began a slow decline. Both bushel basket and baby furniture production were stopped in the early 80’s. The supplying of building materials for the single family, light commercial and church markets have been Barden’s focus ever since. The company is now one of the largest manufacturers of panelized homes in the United States.
Today, Barden & Robeson is owned and managed by the fourth generation. Mark Barden is president, Eric Barden is vice president and executive sales manager and Tim Gelder is secretary and treasurer. Total company sales have averaged $28 million annually the last two years and only the sluggish economy and a resulting slump in home buying will keep the company from bettering that mark in 2009. With the closure of one plant in Tully, New York, in 2008, employment of 85 remaining longtime employees is expected to remain fairly stable through 2009.
It’s been said that when the going gets tough, the smart look for strong niche markets. This is why the company is changing its business model to include log and timber homes, announced Mark Barden, president. Called Barden Log Systems, the new line of homes will be formally introduced to the company’s builder/dealer network at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino this month.
“We are very excited about this,” said Mark Barden. “Steve Patlin is our new sales manager for the log home systems. He previously was with Original Lincoln for 30-plus years. He’s just high energy individual, very knowledgeable and we’re happy he’s on our team.”
The new log home company will offer full log home packages, crafted from 8x8 Eastern White Pine, in a variety of profiles and corner styles. Additionally, an economy line of log homes will also be offered, using the panelized building system, in conjunction with a half log siding, inside and out.
Barden says the company is applying to be part of the Log Homes Council, which requires the company offer a construction manual, have logs graded by third party agencies and adhere to a rigid code of ethics.
Barden Log Systems will be offered to a select group of authorized builders within the company’s existing network, as well as recruiting veteran log home builders who have used other producers in the past.
Company History
Panelized housing was the farthest thing from George L. Barden’s mind when he started in business for himself in 1909. A native of Penn Yan, NY, he and Roscoe J. Robeson teamed up in 1909 to produce spokes and hubs for wagon wheels for a plant in Penn Yan.
The pair formed Barden and Robeson Corp. and switched from wagon wheels spokes and hubs to the production of bushel baskets for the fruit growing trade. Barden became president of the new corporation and Robeson assumed the post of vice-president.
The basket business proved a successful venture and in 1927, Barden & Robeson opened up a second production facility located on Van Buren street in Lockport. Both the Penn Yan and the Lockport plants flourished during the 1930s. It was during the 1930s that Barden & Robeson added the production of baby furniture at the Penn Yan location. The baby furniture operation was housed in a separate 20,000 square foot plant from the 45,000 square foot bushel basket plant at Penn Yan.
Along came World War II and Barden & Robeson joined the all-out war effort. Bushel baskets production at the Penn Yan and Lockport was switched to the production of ammunition boxes and in 1942 a former furniture factory at 103 Kelly Avenue, in Middleport was also acquired for additional ammunition box production.
Ammunition boxes were produced by Barden & Robeson throughout the war. With the advent of peace, such war production was returned to the output of bushel baskets at Penn Yan and Lockport.
To accommodate growth of the building material supply business, the Middleport facility was expanded to 60,200 square feet of space in 2005.
Barden & Robeson and its Barden Building Systems has become a leader in the building material supply industry and one of the largest in its field. Only the current condition of the economy has interfered with continuing growth.
Started in 1909 by George L. Barden and Roscoe J. Robeson, the company’s first factory-made products were spokes and hubs for wagon wheels. Over the intervening years, the company went on to craft bushel baskets, baby furniture and ammunition boxes during World War II.
At the Middleport plant, postwar efforts were centered on pre-engineered and panelized homes by Barden & Robeson.
As this business grew in the postwar years, the bushel basket began a slow decline. Both bushel basket and baby furniture production were stopped in the early 80’s. The supplying of building materials for the single family, light commercial and church markets have been Barden’s focus ever since. The company is now one of the largest manufacturers of panelized homes in the United States.
Today, Barden & Robeson is owned and managed by the fourth generation. Mark Barden is president, Eric Barden is vice president and executive sales manager and Tim Gelder is secretary and treasurer. Total company sales have averaged $28 million annually the last two years and only the sluggish economy and a resulting slump in home buying will keep the company from bettering that mark in 2009. With the closure of one plant in Tully, New York, in 2008, employment of 85 remaining longtime employees is expected to remain fairly stable through 2009.
It’s been said that when the going gets tough, the smart look for strong niche markets. This is why the company is changing its business model to include log and timber homes, announced Mark Barden, president. Called Barden Log Systems, the new line of homes will be formally introduced to the company’s builder/dealer network at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino this month.
“We are very excited about this,” said Mark Barden. “Steve Patlin is our new sales manager for the log home systems. He previously was with Original Lincoln for 30-plus years. He’s just high energy individual, very knowledgeable and we’re happy he’s on our team.”
The new log home company will offer full log home packages, crafted from 8x8 Eastern White Pine, in a variety of profiles and corner styles. Additionally, an economy line of log homes will also be offered, using the panelized building system, in conjunction with a half log siding, inside and out.
Barden says the company is applying to be part of the Log Homes Council, which requires the company offer a construction manual, have logs graded by third party agencies and adhere to a rigid code of ethics.
Barden Log Systems will be offered to a select group of authorized builders within the company’s existing network, as well as recruiting veteran log home builders who have used other producers in the past.
Company History
Panelized housing was the farthest thing from George L. Barden’s mind when he started in business for himself in 1909. A native of Penn Yan, NY, he and Roscoe J. Robeson teamed up in 1909 to produce spokes and hubs for wagon wheels for a plant in Penn Yan.
The pair formed Barden and Robeson Corp. and switched from wagon wheels spokes and hubs to the production of bushel baskets for the fruit growing trade. Barden became president of the new corporation and Robeson assumed the post of vice-president.
The basket business proved a successful venture and in 1927, Barden & Robeson opened up a second production facility located on Van Buren street in Lockport. Both the Penn Yan and the Lockport plants flourished during the 1930s. It was during the 1930s that Barden & Robeson added the production of baby furniture at the Penn Yan location. The baby furniture operation was housed in a separate 20,000 square foot plant from the 45,000 square foot bushel basket plant at Penn Yan.
Along came World War II and Barden & Robeson joined the all-out war effort. Bushel baskets production at the Penn Yan and Lockport was switched to the production of ammunition boxes and in 1942 a former furniture factory at 103 Kelly Avenue, in Middleport was also acquired for additional ammunition box production.
Ammunition boxes were produced by Barden & Robeson throughout the war. With the advent of peace, such war production was returned to the output of bushel baskets at Penn Yan and Lockport.
To accommodate growth of the building material supply business, the Middleport facility was expanded to 60,200 square feet of space in 2005.
Barden & Robeson and its Barden Building Systems has become a leader in the building material supply industry and one of the largest in its field. Only the current condition of the economy has interfered with continuing growth.
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