Our History

The Southwestern Hardwood Manufacturers Club first met and organized in October 1917.  That first meeting consisted of several hardwood sawmill owners who met in Lake Charles, Louisiana realizing that changes had to come to the hardwood industry to move into a new era of production management and product marketing. The need for well-manufactured hardwood lumber was growing worldwide. The demand had become so intense that these sawmill owners recognized they needed to join together and create standards of manufacture and marketing.  Now, for the last one hundred years, this organization has worked to shape hardwood manufacture and marketing to provide the world with the beauty and quality of American Hardwoods!  

This year the SWHMC moves into their second century with more drive, desire, and determination to keep American Hardwoods at the top of the list when quality hardwood is needed.  The commitment of the members of the Southwestern Hardwood Manufacturers Club is generations deep.  The 21st Century is bright with new technology capable of bringing even greater advances than were born in that first meeting one hundred years ago!