Berwyn's Fritz Lumber To Get Proper Sendoff

Back in 1863, when Abraham Lincoln was our president, Henry Fritz settled in what's now Berwyn and opened a lumber company. Now, 153 years and five generations later, the lumber purveyor has closed.

But the longtime Berywn Business is not going away without a proper sendoff. The Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust and Eadeh are holding a fundraiser event at the lumber yard that it's calling "Puttin' on the Fritz." The "party in the yard" is scheduled for Oct. 22 at the Fritz lumber yard, 631 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn.

But before that, on Saturday Oct. 8, Fritz Lumber will open one last time for a major auction where the business will unload its remaining supplies. The complete liquidation auction will be on site at the lumber yard and begins at 9 a.m.

The party will raise money for the Living History Center's work to reconstruct the Jones Log Barn through its ticket sales, which can be purchased here for $75 each or $125 for two. Because the trust is a 501(c)(3) charitable non profit, ticket purchases are considered donations and are tax deductible.

The trust is calling Puttin' on the Fritz the last chance to explore the 153-year-old business.

Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust President Pattye Benson said seeing long-running and family-owned businesses close is always sad, especially ones with histories such as Fritz Lumber.

"One of the major reasons we're doing a fundraiser there is (Fritz's) longstanding commitment to the community," she said. She went on to say many of the lumber yard employees had been working there for 20 or 30 years, saying the Fritz family is more than just blood relatives.

Eadeh Enterprises, which Benson said is also a Berwyn staple, does not have immediate plans for the

"They're very mindful of the community and preservation," Benson said. "It's important to them that the Fritz family heritage is honored."

The Oct. 22 event will feature silent and live auctions, live music from Soul Patch, and food an drinks. Guests are asked to wear "chic barn casual attire."

For more information visit the Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust website or call (610) 644-6759.

Image via Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust

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