NEIGHBORHOOD ROOTS

Dash Lumber began in 1946, when "Mister Sam" Diecidue (Dásh-ê-dü) and his son, Joe, were building their own home in the 9th Ward. There was a lumber shortage at the time, so the father and son team had to be resourceful, cutting pine trees from their family's property, drying the wood and creating their own lumber. Contractors and builders in the neighborhood asked to buy some of the quality lumber they were using, and they were happy to oblige.

GROWING TO MEET A GROWING CITY'S NEEDS

•  The first location of the family business was the front yard of the Diecidue home at 1241 Kentucky St. -- just a block from St. Claude and Poland Ave.

•  Within a few years, the operation grew to a store front operation at 1301 Kentucky St.

•  Delivery service began shortly after with the purchase of a used truck from the Coca Cola Bottling Company. A second Coca Cola truck was purchased in 1951, and the Dash shipping fleet was born. Today our fleet includes a boom truck, flat-beds with truck-mounted forklifts, a semi and covered van trucks; each purposed to move products materials safely and efficiently.

•  The store on Chef Menteur Hwy. opened for business in 1969 as a modest hardware and building materials shop less than 1/5 the size we are today.

•  In 1981, Dash lumber moved the Kentucky street operation to St. Claude Ave.; that store served the community until 1997.

•  The Chef location continues to grow to serve a wide variety of customers and construction needs

A FAMILY YOU CAN TRUST

Michael and Gary Diecidue continue to grow Dash Lumber, serving residential and commercial customers across the Metro New Orleans area equally well with quick, dependable service and the willingness to shop items not in stock. With an expanded line of materials and services -- and New Orleans' friendliest, most knowledgeable staff -- Dash is the choice of those who appreciate quality and value.



DASH FACTS

•  In the 50s and 60s, Sunday was the "day off" when everyone gathered together for family dinners.   Mister Sam knew this was a good time to find the customers who owed money.   He would make rounds and occasionally come home with TVs or other bartered items as payment on account.

•  Over the years, more than 25 cousins and extended family members have worked at Dash as a first job-dusting paint cans, weighing nails, and driving trucks.

•  Joe Diecidue has been at the heart of the business since it opened more than 60 years ago, and he still works every day!