McLaughlin takes Rathbun reins
Company under new ownership
PRESQUE ISLE — A local family lumber business now has a new leader at its helm. Veteran Rathbun Lumber Company owner Alden Rathbun announced last week that the company has been purchased by store manager James McLaughlin, a Fort Fairfield native and longtime employee.
Contributed photos/Rathbun Lumber
New Rathbun Lumber Company owner Jamie McLaughlin, with his wife, Amanda, and their two daughters, Sarah and Aubrey. McLaughlin’s ownership was announced this week. The family currently resides in Fort Fairfield.
Alden Rathbun, left, longtime owner of Rathbun Lumber Company, shakes hands with Jamie McLaughlin, who this week became the new owner of the business. McLaughlin, a Fort Fairfield native and resident, has managed the Presque Isle store since 2013. 
Located in the heart of Presque Isle, Rathbun Lumber has been family owned and operated since 1948, supplying Aroostook County residents with building needs. With the purchase, according to Rathbun, the company’s commitment to personal service and integrity will remain the cornerstone of its customer-oriented philosophy.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the decision to pass Rathbun Lumber ownership on to James, who has been an integral part of this company’s history and culture for more than a decade,” Rathbun said. “I know that under his leadership and guidance the company will continue to thrive and deliver on the quality we have always promised to our customers.”
McLaughlin’s purchase of Rathbun Lumber Company was final as of mid-October.
“I am proud to be taking on this next chapter and joining the gracious business community of Presque Isle,” said McLaughlin. “I promise to continue the legacy of excellent customer service that Alden and his family have set forth and look forward to serving Aroostook County residents for years to come.”
McLaughlin has been managing the company since January 2013, under Rathbun’s guidance.
After graduating from Fort Fairfield High School in 2003, McLaughlin attended Northern Maine Community College (NMCC) for carpentry and drafting that fall. He then joined Rathbun as a delivery driver in the summer of 2004.
Upon graduation from NMCC in 2006, he began work for a local architect, drafting building plans for large architecture firms across the country using the latest computer aided design (CAD) technologies. In 2008, McLaughlin rejoined the Rathbun team as a full-time salesman while attending the University of Maine at Presque Isle in pursuit of a business degree.
He currently resides in Fort Fairfield with his wife, Amanda, and their two young daughters, Sarah and Aubrey.
The store is located at 43 State Street in Presque Isle. For more information, call 764-4444 or visit the company on Facebook.
