In 1904 O.D. Greene Jr., who worked with his father, bought a mill on the north bank of Sandy Creek in Adams, N. Y. When his father died in 1911, the mill in Adams Center was abandoned, and the following spring, the machinery was moved to the Adams location and O.D. Greene Lumber Co. was established. A log dam was used to contain water to run an undershot water wheel.

In 1933 the dam was replaced with a concrete structure and a more efficient water turbine was added. Water power was used to turn the main line shaft and several jack or secondary shafts. In the 1960's a diesel engine was used to power the shafts that ran the table saws, planers, foursided sticker machines, a sander, a grinder, and mortise and tenon machines. The leather belts were still hand laced and the Babbitt bearing were hand poured.

Rick Stevens and David Vorce purchased the business from the estate of Franklin Waite, a son-in-law of O.D. Jr. in 1976 and a third partner, Jim Bettinger soon joined the business. With the retirement of Gerald Greene in the mid 1980's, with 62 years of service (his father before him had worked for the Company 61 years), the mill equipment was moved to Hanford Mills Museum in East Meridith, N.Y. Sales in the lumber and hardware increased and with the joining with Ace Hardware in 1981, the store increased in size from 1,200 square feet to 2,400. Jim and Dave retired in 1985. A second store was built on Route 3 in Sackets Harbor and opened April 1. 1988.

On Saturday, September 28, 1991, 6:07 p.m., the Jefferson County Fire Control Center received notification of a fire at the O.D. Greene Lumber Co. Within minutes, the fire could be seen from many miles away. Fifteen Fire Departments and over 350 firefighters and emergency medical personnel assisted with the battle. Three Adams fireman were hospitalized. With the assistance and support of the community and employees, O.D. Greene opened the following Monday morning in temporary trailers loaned by the Blount Lumber Co. and Bill Kellogg of Tug Hill Construction. Help and support from Redwood National Bank, Oswego Country Mutual Insurance Company, the Adam's Town Board, and Ace Hardware allowed for O.D. Greene to reopen April 1, 1992, at the new, expanded location on Route 11, just 6 months after the fire. The moral and physical support of the employees and the whole community made it possible. A debt that will never be able to be fully repaid. Rick Stevens died at the end of 2007. Since then his wife Sally has taken over as owner of the company.

ACE and O.D. Greene
Since 1981 when O.D. Greene joined Ace Hardware, the business has experienced a steady and healthy growth. Ace has supplied more than just a quality product at a fair price, Ace has assisted with computerization, marketing, training, best practices, and all of the other essentials that a small business needs in today's business world to succeed. Ace's field staff and management team are the best in the industry. If you would like to know about Ace Hardware or are interested in owning a store of your own.