R. S. Monger and Sons, Inc.

R. S. Monger and Sons, Inc. — commonly known as Mongers — is a family-owned lumber yard and building supplies retailer based in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The company was founded in the late spring of 1922 by Ralph Showalter (R.S.) Monger, a Bridgewater College graduate who, together with two employees, began selling, loading, and delivering sand and lumber throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Early operations were modest: materials were stored in a 30-by-60-foot building and delivered by horse-drawn wagons. Over the following decades the inventory expanded to include coal and other building materials, and the business grew into a fixture of the local construction trade. Mongers incorporated in 1935 and has remained under the direction of the Monger family across multiple generations. The company operates from a location adjacent to downtown Harrisonburg on Chesapeake Avenue, where it maintains a permanent office, scales, and a full-service yard. Its product range today spans lumber and plywood, roofing, windows and doors, siding, masonry, hardscapes, decking and railing, cabinetry, flooring, moulding and stair parts, insulation, and coal. The firm describes itself as a full-service lumber yard and building supplies store serving the Shenandoah Valley since 1922. As a private, family-owned enterprise, R. S. Monger and Sons is not publicly traded and does not disclose financial results. Its leadership team includes president Jim Higgs, secretary/treasurer J.M. Monger, and vice presidents Jim Monger, John Monger, Susan Shifflett, and Dakota Higgs. The company was featured in U.S. Builders Review magazine in Fall 2015. It continues to serve professional builders, contractors, and homeowners in and around Harrisonburg, with business hours Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturdays from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

R. S. Monger and Sons, Inc. began in the late spring of 1922 when Ralph Showalter (R.S.) Monger, a recent Bridgewater College graduate, started selling sand and lumber with two other employees. The young venture sold, loaded, and delivered materials throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Inventory was stored in a 30-by-60-foot building, and deliveries were made by horse-drawn wagons. Coal and other building materials were later added to the product line. In 1928, a cider mill was built on the premises and operated until 1934. During this period Mongers received permission from the C & W Railroad to build bridges across Blacks Run; three bridges were constructed along with a coal tipple for unloading coal. The company also rented a 150-foot lot from the C & W Railroad on Chesapeake Avenue in Harrisonburg, where the present office is located, and built a small temporary office and scales there. Monger's became incorporated in 1935. In 1938, William (K.) Kaylor Monger, son of R.S., began working full-time in the office after graduating from Virginia Tech. In 1941, John Henry Monger Sr., another son of R.S., graduated from Virginia Tech with a commission and entered World War II in Asia. In 1942, K. followed his brother into service, serving in Europe. During the war years, R.S. and his wife Lillye ran the business, with most responsibilities falling to Lillye because of R.S.'s failing health. In 1946, K. and John Sr. returned home from the war and actively ran the business, making executive decisions with R.S. and Lillye's approval. From 1946 to 1947, the building that stands over Blacks Run was constructed. Also in 1947, Mongers purchased the 150-foot property they had been leasing from the railroad and built a permanent office. In 1968, the front office burned down and was rebuilt; during this time the scales were modernized. The company has continued as a family-owned and operated business into the present day, serving the Shenandoah Valley from its Harrisonburg location. Its product range has expanded well beyond the original sand and lumber to include plywood, roofing, windows and doors, siding, masonry, hardscapes, decking and railing, cabinetry, flooring, moulding and stair parts, insulation, and coal. In Fall 2015, R.S. Monger & Sons was featured in U.S. Builders Review magazine.

• 2015

  R.S. Monger & Sons is featured in U.S. Builders Review magazine Fall 2015.

• 1968

  The front office burns down and is rebuilt; scales are modernized.

• 1947

  Mongers buy the 150-foot property leased from the railroad and build a permanent office.

• 1946

  K. and John Sr. return from the war and actively run the business.

• 1942

  K. Monger enters military service in Europe; R.S. and Lillye run the business.

• 1941

  John Henry Monger Sr. graduates from Virginia Tech with a commission and enters WWII in Asia.

• 1938

  William (K.) Kaylor Monger begins working full-time in the office after graduating from Virginia Tech.

• 1935

  Monger's becomes incorporated.

• 1928

  A cider mill is built on the premises; it operates until 1934.

• 1922

  R.S. Monger and two employees start selling sand and lumber in the Shenandoah Valley.

Full-service, family-owned lumber yard and building supplies store serving the Shenandoah Valley since 1922, offering superior service and excellent pricing.

• Lumber and plywood

• Roofing

• Windows and doors

• Siding

• Masonry

• Hardscapes

• Decking and railing

• Cabinetry

• Flooring

• Moulding and stair parts

• Insulation

• Coal

1. 1R.S. Monger & Sons official websitemongerlumber.com
2. 2Monger History | rsmongerandsonsmongerlumber.com
3. 3Who We Are | rsmongerandsonsmongerlumber.com
4. 4Our Products | rsmongerandsonsmongerlumber.com
5. 5R. S. Monger and Sons, Inc. - Wikidatawikidata.org