Horten Building Supply keeps family tradition alive

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — For more than four decades, Horten Building Supplies has been serving the needs of builders both professional and amateur in the greater Houlton area. If a home construction or renovation project has gone on, there’s a good chance some of the materials came from Horten Building Supplies.
Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Dave Bates
FRIENDLY STAFF — The staff at Horten Building Supply includes, from left, Ray Ivey, Kevin McGary, Brad Butler, Kent Horten, Peggy Longstaff and Jason Fitzpatrick.
    In a day when “big box” hardware stores are becoming more common, Horten Building Supplies takes pride in the fact that they are locally owned and operated.
    “We stock everything from the chalk line to layout your lot to the chimney cap when you are done,” said owner Kent Horten. “And our staff has full knowledge of everything we sell. Satisfying the customer is the key.”
    A family business since its inception, Horten Building Supplies opened its doors in 1967 when Laurence and Shirley Horten, Kent’s parents, bought out Henry Briggs Inc. The company was originally located on North Street, in the area that is now Riverside Park.
    The operations included retail sales, construction crew and custom planing and milling in the basement of the original building.
    “I believe the man in the basement doing the milling was Philip Eagers,” Kent said. “He seemed to be a 100 years old to me at the time, but he could put out some wood.”
    As inventory increased and space was needed, Laurence Horten purchased the adjacent building, a four-story apartment building commonly referred to as “the Bee Hive.” The bottom three floors were used for warehouse space.
Contributed photo
THE BEE HIVE — Horten Building Supply expanded its warehouse to this four-story apartment complex commonly referred to as “the bee hive” in the 1960s.
    With increased traffic on North Street, it became increasingly difficult for vehicles to exit the business.
    “In the winter, we had to stop traffic so delivery trucks could get a run for the hill in order to get out,” Horten said.
    In 1987, Laurence Horten purchased land from the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Company on Military Street and built the new store. In 1988, the move was made to the new location, where the business remains today.
    “A few friends could tell some great stories about the move,” Kent said. “It’s a good thing the ‘weigh wagon’ wasn’t patrolling between North and Military streets.”
    Once on Military Street, the business expanded to include several warehouses adjacent to the main retail building. The main retail building is 3,600 square feet, while the warehouses feature about 27,000 square feet.
    In 1990, Kent and Sally Horten purchased the business from his father. Prior to that, Kent was a shop teacher for 12 years.
    “With the purchase came a major increased debt load, longer days and challenges that would test one’s sanity,” Kent said. “I had been indirectly involved in my dad’s business from the time he purchased it. I was getting done with teaching, so I decided I wanted to invest in something solid. We’ve done well, but we have had our challenges for sure.”
    By staying independent, Horten Building Supplies is able to stock any item it chooses. And if they do not have a particular brand or item, it’s relatively easy to get it for the customers, Horten said.
    “We’re still independent,” Kent said. “The wholesalers we buy from know and appreciate the fact that we are independent. We also have a steady customer base and have built up sales history with them over the years.”
contributed photos
THEN AND NOW — Horten Building Supply was originally located in the area now known as Riverside Park (top photo). The waterfront location proved tricky for customers to exit onto North Street, prompting the move to the business’ current location. In 1988, Horten Building Supply moved to its current location on Military Street (below photo). The site was once home to the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad.
    Competition has come and gone over the years, but Horten Building Supplies has perservered. At one point there were four hardware stores in Houlton alone. The big box stores in Bangor and Presque Isle have had somewhat of an impact on his business, but for the most part the customer base has remained steady.
    “A lot of people will go see what those stores have and then come back here and ordered it from us,” Kent said.
    Today, Horten Building Supplies’ staff includes Kevin McGary, Brad Butler, Ray Ivey, Jason Fitzpatrick and Peggy Longstaff.
    “We have been fortunate enough to have had many good employees over the years,” he said. “Nobody has a title. Everybody can do every aspect of the job. Our crew does more, with less than any other establishment I have visited. We may not have all the answers to our customers’ needs, but we will do our research and find the solution.”