The 135-Year-Old Louisiana Lumber Yard That's Still Building Cajun Country
What happens when a lumber company founded in 1888 keeps serving the same community for over a century—through wars, hurricanes, and the complete transformation of American life?
Meet St. Landry Lumber Company—the historic lumber yard in Opelousas, Louisiana, that has been supplying building materials to Cajun Country since 1888. One of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the city, St. Landry Lumber operates from a stunning Queen Anne Revival structure that's one of the last remaining lumberyard buildings of its kind in Louisiana.
For 135 years, St. Landry Lumber has helped families build homes, businesses raise their walls, and communities grow—all from the heart of Louisiana's Catholic Acadian heartland.
Founded Before Louisiana Had Paved Roads
In 1888, Alonzo C. Skiles founded what was then called Skiles Lumber Company in downtown Opelousas. This was an era when:
- Louisiana was still recovering from Reconstruction
- Most roads were unpaved
- Building materials were hauled by horse and wagon
- The lumber business meant knowing every customer by name
The two-story Queen Anne Revival building that still houses the business today was constructed as a working lumberyard—designed for both commerce and durability. It's a rare survivor of that era's commercial architecture.
In 1925, Mr. Perkins Sr. acquired sole ownership, and the company was renamed St. Landry Lumber Company after the parish it serves. The Perkins family has guided the business ever since, maintaining the personal service that's defined the company since its founding.
More Than Just Lumber
Today's St. Landry Lumber serves the full range of building and home improvement needs:
Building Materials:
- Lumber and dimensional wood
- Roofing shingles and materials
- Concrete and rebar
- Doors and windows
- Paints and finishes
Expert Assistance: The staff helps clients select the right materials for residential and commercial projects—the kind of personal guidance that big-box stores can't match.
Outdoors and Hunting: Reflecting Louisiana culture, St. Landry Lumber also carries a state-of-the-art lineup for hunting and outdoor sports:
- Deer stands
- Rifles and shotguns
- Knives and outdoor gear
This combination of building materials and outdoor supplies serves the whole life of Cajun families—from building their homes to enjoying the Louisiana outdoors.
Serving Catholic Acadiana
St. Landry Parish sits in the heart of Acadiana—the region of South Louisiana settled by French Catholic Acadians expelled from Nova Scotia in the 18th century. This is one of the most Catholic regions in America, where:
- Parish boundaries define communities
- Church steeples mark every town
- Catholic feast days structure the calendar
- Faith and culture are inseparable
For 135 years, St. Landry Lumber has served these Catholic families—providing the materials for homes, churches, schools, and businesses throughout the region.
When you walk into St. Landry Lumber, you're walking into a piece of Louisiana Catholic history.
Why Local Lumber Yards Matter
In an age of big-box retailers, local lumber yards like St. Landry offer something different:
Personal Knowledge Staff who know building materials—and who know their customers. They can advise on projects, suggest solutions, and stand behind what they sell.
Community Investment Dollars spent at St. Landry Lumber stay in Opelousas. The business supports local families, sponsors local events, and invests in the community.
Historic Continuity Walking into St. Landry Lumber connects you to 135 years of Louisiana history. The building itself is a reminder that commerce can be beautiful and enduring.
Relationships Over Transactions When you've been serving the same community for over a century, business becomes personal. St. Landry Lumber knows its customers across generations.
A Building Worth Visiting
The St. Landry Lumber building is itself a destination. Listed as a stop on the City of Opelousas Historic District Walking Tour, the Queen Anne Revival structure represents:
- Late 19th-century commercial architecture
- The history of Louisiana's lumber industry
- A rare surviving lumberyard building
- Continuity between past and present
Even if you're not in the market for building materials, the building is worth seeing—a reminder of what American main streets once looked like, and what they can still be.
Why This Matters
If St. Landry Lumber closed its doors, Opelousas would lose more than a hardware store. It would lose a 135-year thread connecting the town to its Cajun Catholic roots -- a Queen Anne Revival landmark that has served the same families across five generations. In a region where the local lumber yard was where you planned your first home, repaired the church roof, and outfitted hunting season, St. Landry Lumber is the last of its kind: a family-owned, full-service building supplier that treats every customer like a neighbor, because they are.
How You Can Support
- Visit the store: 207 N Railroad Ave, Opelousas, LA 70570
- Call for your project: (337) 942-2227
- Choose local: When you need building materials, consider local lumber yards first
- Share the history: Help others discover this Louisiana treasure
- Visit the historic district: Take the Opelousas walking tour
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St. Landry Lumber has been serving Cajun Country since 1888. Our paid guides help you find Catholic-owned retailers, hardware suppliers, and specialty shops across every state -- businesses with the same generational commitment to their communities.
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Have you shopped at a local lumber yard? Do you have memories of St. Landry Lumber or similar family businesses? Drop a comment below—we'd love to hear your stories!
Find St. Landry Lumber Company:
- Address: 207 N Railroad Ave, Opelousas, LA 70570
- Phone: (337) 942-2227
- Website: stlandrylumberco.com
- DCB Listing: Find St. Landry Lumber Company on Discover Catholic Business
Sources: St. Landry Lumber Co., Acadiana Historical, City of Opelousas Historic District, St. Landry Chamber of Commerce