In 1919, B.L. Ogilvie began his business selling coal and household goods in Weston, MA. He acquired horses for teaming and added a sawmill. Trees were cut for lumber from what is now the Ogilvie Town Forest, milled at Warren Avenue and then sold at retail.

By 1927 B.L. had acquired six trucks and employed ten men. The company built several roads and houses in Weston and during the winter months they would plow snow for the town. In 1928, a railroad siding was added for receiving coal, grain, shavings and lumber. Ogilvie’s continued to grow and in 1932 became incorporated.

Today, Ogilvie’s is a lumber yard with all lumber under cover, a full-service hardware store with propane filling station, and a landscape supply yard.

Over The Years

1919 B.L. Opens business at Warren Avenue, Weston, MA.
1928 Addition of railroad siding, lumber, hardware, coal
1932 Incorporated as B.L. Ogilvie & Sons, Inc.
1936 Addition of heating oil service
1938 Ogilvie’s saw mill was commissioned to process the fallen trees from surrounding towns caused by the ’38 Hurricane
1954 New office constructed; began tradition of lolly-pop “Tree” giveaway to children
1958 Construction of 6,000 sq. ft. drive thru lumber warehouse
1969 Celebrated 50th year in business
1977 Construction of 5,000 sq. ft. hardware and garden building
1978 Open regular hours during blizzard; Alden Whittemore coins slogan “Ogilvie Has It!”
1982 B.L.’s youngest son, Ray Ogilvie retires
1988 Purchased abutting land for new lumber warehouse purposes
1989 Celebrated 70th year in business
1992 Construction of 10,000 sq. ft. drive thru lumber warehouse
1993 Donation of two acres of land to Weston Forest & Trails Association
1994 Celebrated 75 years in business; B.L.’s grandson, Alden Whittemore retires
1995 Added propane filling station
2000-2018 Voted Best of Metro West, Readers Choice Award
2001 Signed with Do-It-Best buying co-op
2002 Denny High retires from role as treasurer
2004 Celebrated 85 years in business
2007 Ogilvie Root Beer introduced
2009 Celebrated 90 years in business
2010 Increased hours of operation, 7:00-5:00 M-F, 7:30-4:00 Sat.
2011 Ken Sutherland, retires from role as President after 48 years
2011 Ogilvie BBQ Sauce introduced
2012 Kevin Whittemore, B. L.’s great grandson becomes President
2013 John Place retires from role as contractor sales after 44 years
2013 Participated in the Weston 300th Anniversary Parade Celebration
2016 Walter Mulcahy retires from role as Vice President after 50 years
2018 Debut of our new logo & color scheme
2018 Became distributor of Purganix Organic Lawn Care products
2019 Entering our Centennial Year