Residential rentals
Homes, duplexes and apartments in the Trimble and Smithville area.
Ask the yard about what is available and when.
Major Lumber Company, downtown Smithville’s lumber yard since 1896
“We Make The Major Difference.”
Mon to Fri 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- 205 E Meadow St, Smithville, MO 64089
- Serving homeowners and contractors across the Clay-Platte area
The lumber yard
Visit us at our downtown Smithville location, on East Meadow Street. The yard serves consumers and contractors in the Clay-Platte area.
Major Lumber is a member of Do it Best, the hardware and lumber cooperative.
Checking on stock before you drive over? Call the yard: 816-532-0970.
Yard hours
| Monday | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Thursday | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Friday | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Saturday | 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
| Sunday | Closed |
Holiday hours may differ. Call ahead if you are making a special trip.
The yard from Meadow StreetPhoto from Major Lumber goes here
Inside the shopPhoto from Major Lumber goes here
The plaques by the doorPhoto from Major Lumber goes here
Major Rentals
The Major family also rents homes and commercial space around Smithville. Call the yard to ask what is open right now.
The Major Mall
Commercial space for local businesses in the Major Mall in Smithville.
Call to ask about space and terms.
Major Lumber history
Major Lumber is the oldest business in Smithville, and the second oldest family owned lumber company in the Kansas City metro. The story runs from the Little Platte River to East Meadow Street.
-
1896
Reuben Major opens the yard
Major Lumber Company was established by Reuben Major on the south bank of the Little Platte River, near the old Patterson Mill. It was one of two lumber yards owned by Reuben and his brother, Weeden Major; the other was in Kearney, Missouri.
Much of the lumber came from Arkansas mills owned by the Major family, who had moved to this area from Arkansas. Another brother, John Sleet Major, was one of the founders of William Jewell College and one of the original organizers of the First National Bank of Liberty.
-
1928
The move to higher ground
By 1928 the yard was in its current location, owned and operated by Charles Oran and Yates Major, sons of Reuben Major. The new site was nearer the railroad, and on higher ground.
-
1965
The flood
The flood of 1965 proved the new location was not high enough. Water surged through downtown Smithville and everything was destroyed. The only building that survived held cement, and was too heavy to float.
One day after the water receded, Major Lumber was serving customers again with what lumber it could scrape together, much of it salvaged from wherever it had floated downstream. Over the next 25 years the yard was slowly rebuilt and expanded.
-
1975
Ron Major takes over
On the death of Oran Major, his son Ron Major took over the lumber yard.
-
1996
One hundred years
The yard marked its 100th anniversary with a sign on the shed: 1896 to 1996, Smithville, MO, and the phone number customers still call today.
Mr. and Mrs. Reuben MajorFamily photo goes here
Yates and Oran MajorFamily photo goes here
The 100th anniversary signPhoto goes here
The history above is the Major family’s own, from the history page at majorlumber.com.
Find the yard
- Yard205 E Meadow St
Smithville, MO 64089 - MailP.O. Box 252
Smithville, MO 64089 - Phone816-532-0970
- Fax816-532-4961
- Emailinfo@majorlumber.com
Getting here
We are on East Meadow Street in downtown Smithville. Directions open in your phone’s maps app, starting from wherever you are, so there is nothing to fill in.
The front of the yardPhoto from Major Lumber goes here