The history of Minton's Lumber & Supply begins over 100 years ago. On November 12, 1897, Parkinson Bros. Lumber & Hardware established a branch yard on Front Street (later known as Evelyn Avenue) in Mountain View. Between 1902 and 1905, Parkinson Bros. Lumber & Hardware added a big lumber shed, a saw mill and offices.
In 1911, when Mountain View had a population of about one thousand, a young man named Earl D. Minton and his bride journeyed on their honeymoon from Neligh, Nebraska to Mountain View. Earl's father (C.C. Minton) had made prior arrangements to purchase Parkinson Bros. Lumber & Hardware. Earl was to complete the transaction and operate the company. He did just that and as a result, Minton Company was born.
The growth of Minton Company over the next 50 years would, in fact, parallel the growth of the city of Mountain View. At that time, Mountain View was a typical small western town of scattered homes, orchards, ranches, dirt roads and wild vegetation. As the community began to grow, Earl Minton, (one of Mountain View's most progressive mayors) recognized the opportunities in this area. In 1924, Earl Minton developed Palmita Park, a subdivision of fine homes in Mountain View. Many of these distinguished residences are still gracing the streets of Mountain View on Velarde, Loreto and Anza streets.
In 1929, the Minton Company operation was divided into two principal businesses: the lumber mill and contracting sales. By the 1950's Earl's son, Owens Minton, was operating the business and decided to expand in a new direction. In 1957, Owens Minton constructed a modern retail hardware and building supply outlet and called it Minton's Lumber & Supply. The store consisted of what we now call the hardware store and outside lumber racks and storage. The Pink Room was added later to attract women buyers. The story goes that a large whitewashed barn on the property was "pinkwashed" and filled with home decorating items that would be of interest to women. This new store's mission was not only to provide homeowners with the highest quality products ("everything to build anything") but to provide them with extraordinary, personalized service by well- trained, knowledgeable employees.
In 1965, Herbert H. Eaton, his wife Mary Jean, and their three daughters were making a journey similar to the one Earl Minton had made in 1911. Traveling from South Royalton, Vermont, Herb relocated his family to Sunnyvale and joined the staff of Minton's Lumber & Supply as the assistant general manager. One of Herb's first assignments was to design the lumber yard at the newly completed store in Cupertino.
In 1971, Owens Minton decided to sell the retail portion of his company. Herb and Mary Jean Eaton became the new owners of Minton's Lumber & Supply. Under their ownership, sales more than tripled, a new store was built in Milpitas, and a new re-manufacturing division was added called Eaton Door, Inc.. In 2007, Herbert elected to retire and turned the business over to his eldest daughter, Debra Schulz.