Catalog

From a half-acre of unpaved ground on Jackson Street in 1946 to a multi-location operation serving builders across New England, our story has always been simple: work hard, buy right, keep your word, and treat people like family. The bright yellow trucks, the first drive-thru lumberyard, the partnerships forged at the counter and on the jobsite—each milestone reflects a promise to show up prepared and finish strong. This timeline highlights the moments that shaped Jackson Lumber & Millwork: the ideas we bet on, the people who built them, and the communities we’ve served along the way. Eight decades in, new tools and technologies have changed how we work— but not why we work. Here’s how a family blueprint became a business built to last.

Built to Last Jackson Lumber & Millwork Story. A Family Legacy: 1946 to Today.

1946 Jackson Street Vision

1950s: Growth & Grit Demand for housing surges. Jackson expands operations to Market & South Union Streets and installs its first rail spur to unload full cars of lumber. A new woodworking shop produces custom windows, doors, and cabinetry. Despite the textile industry’s decline, Jackson helps revive Lawrence by supporting redevelopment of the city’s vacant mills.

1960s Innovation & Expansion Jackson purchases the David Brown Bobbin & Shuttle buildings and moves millwork operations there. In 1964, the company builds New England’s first drive-thru lumberyard—an innovation that draws national attention. New product lines arrive: aluminum storm windows, paint, and lighting fixtures.

Joseph Torrisi, a contractor, founds Jackson Lumber on less than half an acre of unpaved land in Lawrence, Massachusetts. With his brothers and a handful of dedicated employees, he begins building supplies. The first yellow trucks roll out, soon becoming a regional icon.