| 1947 |
Lester's of Minnesota, Inc., Founded
Lester Prairie, MN - Four employees plus three sales people, one crew of six people and a 2,400 sq. ft.
warehouse/office
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| 1949 |
Winsted, Minn. satellite operation started |
| 1954 |
Winsted yard closed.
Art Schwichtenberg becomes sole shareholder
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|
| 1955 |
Wood shop expansion begins (additions made for 10 years) |
| 1957 |
21,600 sq. ft. warehouse added |
| 1960 |
Insl-Wall™ product line introduced |
| 1966 |
19,200 sq. ft. warehouse added |
| 1968 |
Wingspan (post-frame) product line introduced
Colored steel available
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| 1973 |
First computer used for data processing |
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| 1974 |
26,880 sq. ft. warehouse added |
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| 1977 |
Company opens new office building in Lester Prairie
Celebrates 30th anniversary
30,000th building sold
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| 1979 |
Major Lester Prairie plant expansion occurs with an additional 90,800 sq. ft. of manufacturing and
warehouse space added.
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| 1984 |
Company begins limited distribution of product through independent dealers |
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| 1986 |
Butler Manufacturing Company buys Lester's of Minnesota, Inc.
Product distribution shifts to independent dealers everywhere except the original factory-direct
area in Minneapolis/St. Paul and an area roughly 100 miles around.
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| 1987 |
Regional expansion to New Castle, IN |
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| 1988 |
Regional expansion to Clear Brook, VA. |
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| 1989 |
14,000 sq. ft. warehouse added in Lester Prairie |
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| 1990 |
Company purchases Bonanza Buildings, Charleston, IL
Relocates New Castle plan operation to Bonanza's Charleston location
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| 1991 |
Uni-Frame® I, II, III, & IV systems introduced |
| 1992 |
41' wide hog finishing design introduced
Lester Quote™ computer pricing introduced
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| 1993 |
Town & Country product line introduced |
| 1994 |
Dairy rafter style freestall design introduced
Lester Quote 3-D graphics presentation software introduced
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| 1995 |
R-Control® product line introduced |
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| 1996 |
Lester Net™ electronic dealer communication/ordering system introduced |
 |
| 1997 |
Lester celebrates 50 years of leadership
Company employment climbs to more than 400 employees
Over 400 independent Lester builders nationwide
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|
| 2000 |
Operations consolidated, re-organized and re-tooled with new electronic operation system—as part
of complete modernization initiative
Lester's of Minnesota, Inc. changes name to Lester Buildings, LLC.
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| 2001 |
Improv™, Lester's exclusive building design and pricing software system, introduced
Butler Manufacturing Company, celebrates 100 year anniversary.
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 |
| 2002 |
Lester Town & Country updated, featuring more flexibility and economical pricing. |
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| 2003 |
Factory direct sales and construction services expanded to Virginia.
Management group announces intent to purchase company from Butler Manufacturing Company.
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| 2004 |
Announces new company logo
see release
-----------------------
Lester management group successfully purchases company from Butler.
see release
120,000 buildings sold since 1947! Company launches "eBuildings" the industry's first online building pricing website.
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| 2005 |
Begin sponsoring a car in NASCAR Busch Series.
Most Lester dealers participating in eBuildings.
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| 2008 |
Announces new company logo
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