The founder of Vancouver Door Company, Arthur Lundgren, was born and raised in Seattle but settled in Tacoma as a young man. A partnership, Johnson & Lundgren, was formed in 1937. It was the first independent company to distribute plywood, window and doors in Tacoma. In 1945 Lundgren Dealers Supply was formed to distribute building materials. Through the late forties to the mid-fifties, he added distribution centers in Yakima, Seattle, Fresno and Phoenix.

Assets of a little company called Vancouver Sash and Door Company owned by A.J. Langhardt was purchased by Arthur Lundgren in 1940. The little company was located at Port Way and 13th Streets, Vancouver, Washington and was incorporated in January 1941 and became Vancouver Door Company. By the following year due to the labor supply shortage because of competition with the shipyards at Vancouver and Portland it was moved to Montesano, Washington. Annual income in 1946 was $200,000 and increased to $800,000 by 1947.

By 1950 we were producing our first flush doors using Lauan door skins, which dominated industry requirements for over a quarter of a century.  In 1960 the company was moved to Puyallup, Washington to the old Hunt's Cannery building, which it later purchased in 1976.  At this time the manufacturing plant used three floors to manufacture doors and two elevators to move them to the shipping area.

Brand new offices were built on the main floor in 1989. The plant was rebuilt in 1993 after an arson fire did over two million dollars worth of damage. The project managers were Paul E. Anderson Sr., General Manager, and Jerry Goeden, Plant Manager. It took eight months to complete the construction of the new facility.  Paul Anderson, who played an important role in our history, came on board in 1955. He was Vice-President 1978-1993, President from 1993 to 1996 and then retired to pursue other interests.

Arthur Lundgren's daughter, Louise Hill took over as President and CEO in 1996 and still holds that position.  Louise's son, Bart Potter, is the facilities manager of the plant and her daughters, Brenda Nixon and Beverly Potter, are also involved in the business, Brenda in the sales and customer services area and Beverly as customer service liaison to our Hawaiian clients.

Vancouver Door Company Founder, Arthur E. Lundgren
(May 31, 1909 - March 15, 1996)

Arthur E. Lundgren was a well-respected businessman and a beloved family 
man.

He was a member of the Tacoma Yacht Club, the Tacoma Lumbermen's Club, and the Hoo-Hoo Club. He served on the Board of Directors of the National Building Material Distributors Association and was a lifetime member of Tacoma Elks Club #174. He was a Board Member of Puget Sound National Bank from 1967 to 1983.

He was actively involved on the Board of Directors of the Tacoma Boys' Club 
since 1949 and was presented the Boys' Club Silver Keystone Award for outstanding and extraordinary service to boys in 1970 by the Boys' Clubs of America.  He helped establish the Boys' Club in the northwest section of Tacoma. 

His wife of forty-nine years, Elizabeth; two daughters, Joy Andreasen and Louise Hill of Seattle and son, Paul E. Anderson and his wife, Peggy of Tacoma, survived him. He also leaves nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

In Fond Remembrance:  Gary Geppert worked at Vancouver Door from 1972 until his passing in August of 2003.  Gary was the top salesman for many years before becoming the Sales Manager and he finished his 31 year career with VDC as the General Manager from 1996 until 2003.

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