The Green Bay Lumber Company established a yard shortly after the town was incorporated, locating it on the railroad grounds just south of the North Western depot. The lots were purchased from W. Gardner, who had operated a livery barn situated on the chosen site. Up to 1891, F.P. Guild was the manager of the yards and Henry Rohr acted as yard man. In 1891 Rohr took over as manager. In later years Fred Hostedder was manager and following him Barney Neubaum. After Neubaum was transferred, Green Bay decided to liquidate the stock and the business was discontinued.

The Joyce Lumber Yard, owned by Dierka Bros. and company, was established at the North Western tracks in 1881. In 1883 it was moved to the Milwaukee tracks, and was purchased by Brooks and Ross and managed by L.E. Stanton. Later he was replaced by Mr. Wohlers and he was succeeded by August Dethlefs. When the Joyce Lumber Company was located where the city park is now, A.H. Hinz took over as manager and later purchased the lumber; he closed out the business in 1919.

D.W. Sutherland took over a lumber business from Wolfe and Noodle and had a fine grade of building material. This yard was located at the corner of Main and Second. The firm didn't do much advertising but nevertheless got a good share of the business. In the office with Sutherland was Councilman N.F. Spear, who sold hard and soft coal plus some farm implements. Another coal dealer was Runnels and Sims. Their office was near the Farmer's Hotel on Main Street.

Carpenter Charles Brent erected one of the first buildings in Manning; by 1900, he was assisted by his son Edward. Their shop was located north of Third Street on Main.

J.P. Arp closely followed Brent, and built the fifth building in the new town. His partners at various times were John Hoffmann, Charles Schmidt, and John Lienemann; in 1899, Arp moved to Humboldt to operate a lumber yard, but he returned the following year.

Other contractors and carpenters in Manning's first years were Chaussel & James, John Foster, John Stillmans, T.S. Lee, Spickerman & Martin, Shausse & B.M. Jones, G.W. Gilbert and J.S. Ferguson. Early painters included E. Burley & P.N. Brown, G.M. Dailey, Henry Vogt and Mr. Hardee, who specialized in sign writing.

By 1899, the business directory had seen many changes. Contractors listed were Brent, Arp, Ferguson, Lienemann, Lee, Joseph L. Nickum and Chris Steen; carpenters were Frank Ferguson, Charles Schmidt, A.L. Wright, H. Voss. F. Wendel, W. Hathoway, and B.F. Parrott. Painters Dailey and Vogt remained in business, and were joined by John Haupt and a Mr. Mobley. Haupt and Vogt also hung wallpaper.

H.M. Free and Miles Woolman entered the mason and stone cutting business in the mid-1880's, and were well-known throughout the area for their work for many years. Others in this field included J.C. Oard and J.N. Rockefellow, W. McWilliams, and Joe Bemrose (1889-90), Chris Dinesen, A.J. Fritz, Bert Johnston, H.C. Peters and Fred Schrum (1898-1900).

By the turn of the century, Mathias Hinrichs, Bryon Huber, Fred Koepke, Herman Kook, George Ohde, John Smith, Lorenz Huber, and William Sprinkle had entered the carpenter field; new painters included H.T. Corbin, August Reimer, Chas Rogers, and Fred Haupt.

C.E. Schmidt, who had entered the contracting field shortly after Manning began was still in business as of the 1930's.

Three generations of the Hoffmann family will have continuously owned and operated their lumber yard at Manning for 98 years in 1981.

John Hoffmann Sr. and his family moved to Manning April 16, 1882 (Easter Sunday), from their farm six miles north of Manning. That Easter Sunday evening a big fire burned a large part of Main street, with little fire-fighting apparatus to fight it. Thirteen business places were totally destroyed on that side of the street. The business places on the opposite side of the street were scorched and every glass-front cracked.

John Hoffmann and his brother-in-law, George Tank, bought the first lumber yard in Manning from Col. D.W. Sutherland in March, 1883. It became known as Tank & Hoffmann. It was located south of the business district, along side of the first Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad tracks, which were laid May 14, 1881. The lumber yard was a little east of the present Manning Municipal Light Plant, and extended one block. Mr. Tank and his family had also moved into town from his farm.

Lumber had to come from great distances, so in 1891 Hoffmann and his family temporarily moved to Van Buren, Missouri, for one and a half years, to cut and clear timber in the Ozarks. They shipped 174 carloads to Manning, while Tank carried on their business here. Then they set up a planing mill in Manning to finish the lumber.

In the 1890's they built a new lumber yard on the south side of 4th & Center streets, with the carpenter shop, cement, roofing houses, posts, etc. north across the street.

When Tank retired in December, 1897, John Hoffmann's son, Herman, purchased his interest and the firm name was changed to Hoffmann & Son. Herman had started to work at the lumber yard at age 14 before going to the Ozarks, where he assisted in cutting and sawing the timber. From 1894 to 1897 he operated the town water pump. Herman was also active in many community projects through the years; he retired in 1926.

John Hoffmann Sr. retired in 1914 and his second son, Henry, acquired his share of the business. Henry had operated lumber yards in Sheffield and in Maxwell where he was associated with his brother-in-law, Ancil Wheeler. Following that he owned and operated a hardware store in Harlan. Henry served as president of the Manning School Board for 29 years, besides being active in many other civic affairs through the years.

In 1918 a new lumber yard was built on the north side of Fourth & Center streets, which is the present location. The carpenter shop, cement, roofing houses, posts, etc. were on the south side of the street.

July 24, 1919, the local yard of Joyce Lumber Company went out of business. Hoffmann & Son and Green Bay Lumber Company became owners of the stock, buildings and grounds and divided it between them.

When Herman retired in 1926, his youngest brother, Harry, came into the firm. The firm name was then changed to Hoffmann Bros. Prior to that Harry had worked some years at the lumber yard but also owned and operated a grocery store with Leo Kleespies, known as Kleespies and Hoffmann. Harry sold out his share of the store in January, 1918, to enter the Army. He served on the Town Council and was active in civic affairs; he retired from the lumber yard in 1960.

Brothers Robert and Harold Hoffmann are the present owners of the lumber yard. Robert joined the firm February 5, 1953, and Harold became a partner January 2, 1960, when their father, Henry, retired. Robert was employed by the J.F. Anderson Lumber Company at Marion for one year, transferring to Grundy Center for one year, to Artesian, South Dakota, for one year, and to Trent, South Dakota for three years. He then came to Manning as a partner in the Hoffmann Lumber yard. Robert, likewise, has been active in civic affairs, serving eight years on the Town Council and entering his fifth term as Mayor of Manning.

In 1948 Harold went to work for the J.F. Anderson Lumber Company at Milford; after four and a half years, he transferred to their lumber yard at Spencer, where he spent seven years. He then returned to Manning.

Both Robert and Harold served in World War II. Their brother John also worked for J.F. Anderson Lumber Company at Humboldt before entering the Army in World War II. John was killed in an airplane accident over India and Burma territory in 1944.

Styles, architecture and materials have changed a great deal through the years, but Hoffmanns have made an effort to maintain a modern, up-to-date lumber yard. Changes were especially noted with the handling of coal for the community. It was normal to have more than 40 carloads of coal to deliver yearly as the town grew. When Northern Natural Gas Company brought gas to Manning, gradually the number of coal cars lessened from three to four carloads by 1970-71, thus ending the ordering of coal. Many changes in lumber have also occurred since so many items of fabricated materials have been introduced into modern building.

The Town and Country Lumber Yard was opened November 1, 1960, by Charles and Marlyn Fielweber. The site 897 Center Street had been used as the Manning Bottling Works from about 1890 to 1940; the premises were then taken over by A. H. Hinz, who operated the Hinz Building and Supply Yard.

In 1962, an addition was added to the southwest corner of the building, which is used as a storage and shop area. A new office was built and the display area enlarged later that year.

Town and Country Lumber expanded into the speculated home business in 1969 with the Fielwebers building a number of new homes in Manning since that time.

Edward C. Hinz, a native Manning resident, was probably born with a hammer in his hand because he was always working on some project. In 1938 Herman Ruhde joined him and they began working on farm buildings and other remodeling jobs. Labert Stahl Sr. and Emil Ruhde joined them and their first big remodeling job was Erwin Hansen's "Bucktown Castle." Al Marten's lovely home on 1st Street was the first of many that they built in Manning. Lyle Jahn joined the group and these same men worked together all through the years until 1963 when the Hinz family moved to Colorado for Edward's health. Edward also sold Pella Rolscreen Windows for 20 years. He continued his construction work in Denver until his illness and death in 1976. His widow, the former Eileen Stuhr, and family still live in Denver.

Emil Ruhde and Lyle Jahn formed their partnership in 1963. Ruhde, the senior partner, had 40 years' experience as a carpenter; Jahn, whose experience dated back to 1956, had until then been unable to stay with it exclusively due to the seasonal nature of the carpenter business.

Their first major project as a partnership was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Steinke in 1963. Recent major projects have been the Manning Heating and Sheet Metal building and Felker Veterinary Clinic, both on West Street, and the Spies Fur Company on Highway 141. During the past 17 years, they have also constructed many private dwellings, done many remodeling and repair jobs, carpet installations and roof resurfacings.

Originally, they constructed residences through every phase, from digging the footing and laying the blocks for basements, to the building of cupboards and finishing the woodwork. Recently, they have begun to subcontract the block work to masons.

Both partners agree that it is very satisfying to look at the finished project, and know that is has been built with their own hands.

William Halbur opened his construction company in 1976, locating on an acreage southwest of Manning. He now features the sales and erection of grain bins and steel buildings, plus general construction.

Halbur is a graduate of the Area IV Vocational School in Sheldon. He then worked for Builders Lumber and Supply in Denison, and served as foreman of their component homes division for two years.

The three-man team known as Croghan Construction constructed 13 homes in their first one and a half years in business.

Cousins Pete and Dave Croghan and friend, Marc Arp, began the firm in April, 1978. They specialize in residential buildings, from start to finish.

Pete, a 1975 graduate of Manning High School, completed a carpentry course from Iowa Lakes Community College, Emmetsburg, in 1976; Marc attended carpentry classes at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny.

Pete worked for a construction company in Swea City for two years, then returned to Manning. He was joined by Marc and Dave, who had worked at the M & I Dehy since graduating from Manning High School in 1974. Their office is located at 614 11th Street.

Marc's brother Dan is now part of the Company.

Of the homes the firm has constructed, about half are through the Nordaas American Homes of Minnesota Lakes, Minn. They have traveled as far as Colorado to build the homes.

Herbert Hass was born September, 1906 in Omaha, the son of Claus Johannas and Kathryn Sonksen Hass. Six boys were born to this marriage. His brothers are, Walter, Carl, Alvin, John, and Glen.

Hass Construction began in Manning in 1913 when Herb's father and Joe Nickum went into the building business. A few years later Hass went on his own and one of his first brick building projects was the Aspinwall store.

In 1917 Hass Construction built the Manning high school building on highway 141 between Center and Main Streets, since then torn down. Another project was the Ford garage building in 1918 now occupied by Plastico, Ltd. on the southwest corner of 3rd and Center streets. He built the former Lutheran church in 1921, now owned by the Calvary Baptist denomination, and in 1926 the beautifully designed brick building known as the Schuetzen Verein hall and commonly called the opera house was completed.

Mr. Hass died in 1929 and his son Herbert continued the firm's operation. Some of his projects other than general construction of houses and farm buildings were the new Rober-Wehrmann Company building now occupied by the Johnson Department Store; remodeling and building the addition to the municipal light plant; remodeling the Manning Creamery building, and erecting a new front and adding Sunday school wings to the former Lutheran church on 2nd street in 1950. The Puck Implement building was also built that same year.

Herb's brother Walt had also worked into the construction business in Denison and the two brothers worked together on many projects in the area. Some of them are the remodeling of the Lutheran church in Denison, the bowling alley and the first packing plant, the R.E.C. and Safeway store buildings there, and the rectory in Halbur.

Herb can well be proud of the beautiful new Lutheran church erected by the Hass Construction Company in south Manning and completed in 1962. They also built the Catholic church in Manilla in 1963.

Other projects Herb remembers are the Fred Petersen Garage building now combined with the Rix Brothers Standard Oil station; the building housing the city offices, and the telephone building between Center and Main on Third street; also the Dr. Hornberger clinic on Third and Ann, and the Dr. Myer clinic at 310 Main.

Herb was married December 28, 1935 to Eunice Graham of Rockwell City, employed at the Dr. Carlile office at that time. They have two sons, Paul, retired from the Air Force in February, 1980, and David who manages the T.G.&Y. store in Coralville. They have two grandchildren, Korbin, 17, of Cari oll, son of Paul; Duane, 11, son of David in Coralville.

Herb served as -the Manning fire chief from 1937 through 1942.

Irvin Heckenliable entered the carpenter trade about 1945 in Manning, working for contractors Jake Fielweber and Edward Hinz for 11 years. After working on his own, he moved to Carroll for eight and a half years, working part of the time for contractor Harold Bierl and part of the time being self-employed.

Heckenliable returned to Manning in 1964, moving to an acreage one mile west of town. He entered a partnership with Herman Sonksen; since 1966, he has again been self-employed. Heckenliable has been semi-retired since 1979.

Throughout his 34 years in business, Heckenliable has built homes from start to finish, plus done numerous remodeling jobs. It is said that there are few homes in Manning that he has not helped build or remodel. He is especially known for his cabinet and finish work; his projects have included the finish work on the new Catholic Church and the remodeling of the Ohde Funeral Home and the First National Bank.

Frank McLaughlin started this construction firm in 1974 in Gray, with his son Jim helping with the brick, block, stone, and concrete work. When Frank semi-retired in 1979, Jim took over the business and moved to 417 Madison Street in Manning.

McLaughlin Construction has five full-time employees in addition to Jim; during the summer months, several part-time employees are added to the crew. The firm covers a territory which includes Manning and its 25 mile radius, and works mostly on the exteriors of homes and small commercial buildings.

Rasmussen Lumber Co. in Manning was established in 1975 as a branch of the Rasmussen Lumber Co. of Manilla, which originated in 1947 as a family enterprise. The father, Peder Rasmussen, who died in 1954, and his four sons, Leo, Jack, Bob and Otto, have been in the business since it began. They have recently been joined by the third generation, Jim, Jerry, Dennis and Mike. There are between 40 and 55 men employed through the two yards and the Manning Ready-Mix.

The Manning Rasmussen Lumber Co. first located in the east half of the Bunz property on Highway 141. As space became available they expanded into the whole property.

Manning Ready-Mix had been operating in Manning since 1961 as a subsidiary of the Rasmussen Lumber Companies. At present, the Ready-Mix services the area with seven trucks. The manager, who has moved to Manning with his family to assume the position, is Barry Dunshee.