It’s who we are

People know us for going above and beyond. From our front counter to our drivers, every one of us has our customer’s best interest in mind. We always try to stay a step ahead on their projects to keep things running smoothly and efficiently. We anticipate problem areas before they become problems. We earn our customers’ confidence, business, loyalty and friendship through

Integrity.
We will always conduct ourselves in an honest and ethical manner.

Compassion.
We will be fair, loyal, and supportive of our employees.

Purpose.
We will be a responsible corporate citizen in our communities.

Merit.
We will reach for excellence and continuous improvement every day.

Accountability.
We will be accountable to each other and to our customers as we strive to be the best.

It’s what we do

Our history

In 1915, Preston Arthur Feather began his building materials business in a construction partnership with William Wingate. Early projects of Feather & Wingate include many existing buildings in the greater Petoskey area.

As the business grew, so did the reputation of Feather and Wingate as fine builders and honest businessmen. During one project, Preston Feather found he could save money by buying larger quantities of wood. He then sold some of his excess inventory to other area builders. This marked the beginning of the lumber company. Their first lumber outlet was along the railroad tracks on Sheridan Street in Petoskey. At the onset of World War II, the government took over the building and began harvesting milkweed floss for use in military lifejackets. Preston Feather & Sons, as the business was then known, was forced to move their building supply business to 405 Lake Street, downtown Petoskey.

After the war, the company moved to its present location at 900 Spring Street and business flourished with the growth of Petoskey. In 1979 the Feather family sold the business to Bill and Julie Norcross. At that time the old building was replaced with a new 7,000 square foot hardware showroom. Since 1985, Preston Feather Building Centers has added Design Showrooms specializing in windows, doors and cabinetry, and a distribution center. In 1996 a new 12,000 square foot Building Center was added in Gaylord, and in 2006 construction was completed on a 24,000 square foot facility in Harbor Springs. In 2012, Preston Feather expanded into leased facilities in the fast growing Traverse City market. In 2015, Kirk and Lynne Jabara purchased the business from Bill and Julie Norcross. In 2016, a new 13,000 square foot showroom and yard was constructed in Traverse City. Investments continue to be made in people, inventory, facilities and equipment. And the story continues…