Since the early 1800s, Oneida Lumber has been “a staple in the Warren community,” according to its website. Originally a site where logs were stored before being floated down the Allegheny River, Oneida then transformed into the Whitmore Sash, Door, and Blind Company. By the early 1900s it was United Lumber, where lumber was milled and building materials were unloaded from railcars by hand. In 1970 Oneida Lumber became a “full service home center,” as its website says, and in 1983 Ace Hardware was introduced to the already established lumber yard there, “bringing the best name in hardware to the business.”

In 1991, the family-owned Ace Hardware and Oneida Lumber began offering stoves and fireplaces, both sales and service, and in October 2010, the Oneida Hearth and Hot Tub showroom was established. With the addition of the 4,300-square-foot showroom came a wide variety of stoves, fireplaces, hot tubs and accessories that Oneida sells and services.

“It’s been a lucrative expansion,”said Ted Smith, who’s been with Oneida for around eight years. However, growth isn’t all Oneida’s about, although it’s been happening steadily and sustainably at the local hardware staple for years. “We service what we sell, and stand behind what we sell,” Smith said. Since its inception Oneida has been proud to offer its customers salespeople who know their products, who know the industry, and who care whether people walk out of their store both happy and prepared to do whatever home improvement project they’re heading into with confidence.

In the past year, Oneida has hired some new faces to complement the staff that have been there for years, like Smith. Ron Pillsbury, with 18 years experience in kitchen and bath design, was a natural fit as Oneida expands its offerings in both kitchen and bath tile offerings. In particular, Oneida is a dealer of Schluter tile and stone installation systems. Oneida will be offering a new line of kitchen cabinets as well as laminate vinyl flooring, and continuing to offer its granite, quartz, and solid surface countertops. Pillsbury is also knowledgeable in and taking on the upcoming force air furnaces, air conditioning equipment, and complete line of ductwork that Oneida will be rolling out in the coming year.

Shawn Gebhardt is another of the new employees at Oneida, with experience working at Ace Hardware in New Mexico before making his way here. He’s got 14 years experience in construction and around another six carpeting in Florida.

Working their way outdoors, Oneida is also a dealer of Lincoln Windows and is expending its outdoor living offerings including grills, fire pits and outdoor fireplaces, and, of course, the hot tubs that inspired the hot tub portion of the Hearth and Hot Tub Showroom. Oneida offers Beachcomber tubs currently, but will be offering Nordic and PDC Spas in the coming year as well.

Saturday, May 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. would make a great time to stop in and talk to one of the Oneida staff about any of the home improvement projects you’re considering this year, as they’ll be hosting their first annual “pool party,” with discounted pool chemicals and a wealth of knowledge to be shared.