The Collins Companies
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Forest products |
| Founded | 1855 |
| Founder | Truman Doud Collins |
| Headquarters | Portland , United States |
Area served | United States (Northern California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, West Virginia) |
| Products | Hardwood and softwood lumber, siding, trim, particleboard |
| Website | www |
Collins is a privately held, family-operated American company in the forest products sector, established in 1855 and based in Portland, Oregon. It holds the distinction of being the first U.S. private forest products firm to achieve full certification of all its hardwood and softwood forests by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The company manages sawmills and produces a range of products including siding, trim, particleboard, as well as hardwood and softwood lumber. Additionally, it operates retail hardware and lumber outlets throughout northern California. Its business units encompass Collins Pine Company, Kane Hardwood, Collins Hardwood LLC, Collins Products LLC, Collins Builders Supply, and the Almanor Railroad.
19th century
The origins of the company trace back to 1855 when Truman Doud (TD) Collins founded it at Turkey Run near Whig Hill, Pennsylvania. Together with five partners, including his brother Joseph Van Halen (JV) Collins, they acquired a steam-powered mill along with timberland holdings. By 1864, TD Collins had secured complete ownership of the enterprise.
20th century
By 1914, TD Collins controlled vast timberlands exceeding , several sawmills located in Pennsylvania’s Tionesta Valley, various manufacturing facilities, more than of logging railroad infrastructure, locomotives, oil interests, and a banking institution. His son Everell (ES) Stanton Collins took over leadership and expanded the company’s footprint westward into northern California, Washington, and Oregon. At the time of ES’s passing in 1940, the organization encompassed 15 companies engaged in timber harvesting, logging operations, railroads, and pulp & paper production across four states. The corporate headquarters were also relocated to Portland during this period.
Following this, Truman W. Collins assumed the presidency and championed sustainable forestry management practices that ultimately resulted in FSC certification. He also founded several philanthropic organizations such as the Collins Foundation, Collins Medical Trust, and Collins/McDonald Trust.
After Truman’s death in 1963, governance transitioned to his brother-in-law Elmer Goudy and subsequently to Elmer’s son Alan Collins Goudy. Truman’s widow Maribeth Wilson Collins held roles as president of The Collins Foundation and Chair of The Collins Companies’ Board.
21st century
In 2005, Maribeth Collins retired from her position with her daughter Cherida Collins Smith taking over as Chair of The Collins Companies’ Board. Meanwhile, her son Truman W. Collins, Jr. became president of the Collins Foundation. Another son, Terry Collins—who is a forester within the company—assumed leadership as president of Collins Timber Company.
Environmental commitment
Collins emphasizes responsible stewardship of land and natural resources by prioritizing third-party certifications to safeguard forest ecosystem health. The firm maintains active membership with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Starting in 1997, Collins adopted sustainability principles inspired by The Natural Step framework, applying a holistic systems approach throughout its operations. Furthermore, the company joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program with a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18% by 2010.
Sawmill locations
- Collins Hardwood: Kane, Pennsylvania; Richwood, West Virginia
- Collins Softwood: Chester, California; Lakeview, Oregon
- Collins Pine Particleboard: Klamath Falls, Oregon
- TruWood Siding & Trim: Klamath Falls, Oregon
FSC-certified forest sites
- Collins Almanor Forest (softwood): Chester, California
- Collins Lakeview Forest (softwood): Lakeview, Oregon
- Collins Pennsylvania Forest (hardwood): Kane, Pennsylvania
Retail outlets
- Collins Builders Supply: located in Chester, Oroville, Paradise, and Chico, California
Discontinued locations
- Collins Pacific Albus Tree Farm (hardwood): Boardman, Oregon. Operations ceased in September 2016.
See also
Further reading
- Collins Pine: Lessons From a Pioneer, Island Press, June 1, 1999.
- The Collins Story, 2005
- Zuckerman, Seth. "Old forestry", Sierra. Vol. 77, No. 2, (March/April 1992): p. 44