Company history
A man named Pierre Settle seems to be the first owner in September 1885 of 160 acres where the present store is located. The surface Creek Livestock Company was next in line for ownership also in 1885. In 1905, the brothers Wilson B. and Albert H. Stockham and James Zaninetti became involved in ownership of several parcels of land in the area. The Abstract book shows a Warranty Deed from Stockham Brothers to James C. Trine and Orlen Kitch on January 12, 1912.
If not the first, at least one of the first sawmills on Grand Mesa was opened in 1909 by Orlen Kitch. He and his wife and children arrived in Cedaredge in 1905. For eight years Kitch operated his sawmill, located just above Kiser Reservoir. He and James Trine, of Ohio, were partners in the business. After the sawmill was established, they opened the first lumber yard in Cedaredge. In addition to these enterprises, Kitch also operated the first bus line from Cedardge to Grand Mesa. Oldtimers will recall the wagon loads of lumber that were hauled from Grand Mesa to the lumber yard.
On January 22, 1913 a Warranty Deed was signed to Sheldon E. Hyde and another Warranty Deed was done on May 13, 1913 to The Cedaredge Lumber Company. On April 12, 1930, the first Articles of Incorporation were recorded for The Cedaredge Lumber Company. Bob James was associated with the business at that time, an employee since 1916, coming to Cedaredge in 1904. Many of Cedaredge's buildings were built during the years 1918-33. In 1916, James was president of the firm and served in that capacity until he was appointed postmaster in 1933.