Schmuck Lumber Company and Ace Hardware Center
By Jessica L. Knouse
Founded in 1852 by Henry Schmuck, Schmuck Lumber Company has been a reliable name in building materials and community service for more than 170 years.
Its Hanover location, established in 1854, has long served as the company’s cornerstone, supplying contractors and homeowners with lumber, hardware and construction essentials. Over the decades, Schmuck Lumber has remained family- and employee-owned, maintaining its independence while adapting to changing times. Owners Thomas “Woodie” Witman, Landon Rife, Mike Livelsberger and Chris Watson carry on the Schmuck Lumber legacy to this day.
The company has weathered recessions, big-box competition and industry shifts by staying nimble. “You can’t worry about things you have no control over,” says Woodie, president of Schmuck Lumber. “You can only control things that you can control and be nimble enough to move and expand.”
For Woodie, the story of the company is as much about people as much as it is about building supplies. “It’s all about the people, bringing in employees who might be inexperienced in what they’re doing and then they learn in the yard, like I did. They may eventually come into the office and become salespeople,” he says. “You have to take care of your employees and if you do, then they take care of the customers.”
That philosophy has carried Schmuck Lumber through generations of change. “The Schmucks was founded here in 1852,” Woodie explains. “We’re probably one of the oldest hardware stores in the U.S. Carrying on a tradition that went before Lincoln ever went to Gettysburg—I follow in the footsteps of Henry Schmuck.”
Ace Expansion and Renovations
For Landon Rife, co-owner and manager, the story of Schmuck Lumber’s Gettysburg location is as much about community as it is about hardware. “I was born and raised here in Adams County,” he shares. “I came to Schmuck Lumber Company at our Hanover location in 2006. At that point we didn’t even have the Gettysburg store—it didn’t exist.”
The company purchased the Gettysburg property in 2009, but its transformation has been years in the making. “I was always a big fan of Ace Hardware,” says Landon. “I always thought one would do well here in Gettysburg. There were no big-box stores. Where we sit, right here on Route 30, is a good location.”
The Schmuck Lumber and Ace Hardware renovation was a major undertaking. Construction began in June 2024, with only seven employees on site. As Landon reveals, “we worked out of a little job site trailer that never closed. We moved all of our hardware and a lot of the inventory back to our warehouse and just did the best we could with the little bit of space we had.” By mid-December, the new Ace-branded store held its soft opening.
One common question customers ask is who owns the store now? Landon is clear: “A lot of customers will come in and say, did Ace buy Schmuck Lumber? No—we own it. All these Aces are, for the most part, privately owned, which is really nice.”
New Business Horizon
According to Landon, the remodel expanded the business dramatically. “Before we were just a very, very little hardware and then we had building supplies—lumber, drywall, shingles, trim work. Now we have plumbing, electrical, lawn and garden, a full line of Benjamin Moore paint and a complete Stihl service center,” he says.
Expanded hours also help with this business expansion. “Now that we’re open seven days a week, I’ve noticed a lot of contractors take advantage of those evenings,” Landon says. “It helps them out coming in at the end of the day when it’s not so busy.” And, he recalls, customers from across the region appreciate the convenience. “People come in saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t have to run to Hanover anymore.’”
Looking ahead, the new garden center and greenhouse are under construction. “It’s a 24-by-72 greenhouse on the east end of the property. Behind it is a courtyard we’re going to utilize as well for Christmas, Halloween and community workshops. We’re really looking forward to that.”
Landon is most excited about how the Gettysburg location will shape how Schmuck Lumber and Ace Hardware serves the community. “The biggest thing that I care about is the community here,” says Landon. “That was the biggest reason I wanted to bring an Ace in here and redo the entire store. I just thought the county deserved this. And the fact that we are family owned—that’s important. We are family owned and operated, and that would probably be the most important thing to me.”
Garden Center Expansion
For nearly two decades, Kim Mayers has worked as a landscape designer, cultivating a deep knowledge of plants and an appreciation for the spaces they transform. That expertise—and a bit of serendipity—led her to her newest role. “I was in here one day shopping and just struck up a conversation with Landon,” Kim explains. “He told me they were looking to expand with a garden center, and I expressed an interest—and here I am.”
Now the garden center manager, Kim is helping shape a space that goes far beyond rows of plants. The greenhouse is the centerpiece, designed to be predominantly glass and “a really nice shopping experience,” she says. “When you’re inside, it’ll be very open and transparent. You’ll be able to see outside—I think it’ll just have a real nice feel to it.”
Behind the greenhouse, a courtyard offers room for future expansion. “I’m sort of envisioning that to make it look like your backyard,” Kim shares. Plans include pavers, fountains, displays of shrubs, trees and perennials, which will give customers inspiration for their own outdoor spaces.
Inside, the greenhouse will evolve with the seasons. “I sort of envision that as more like vegetable plants, annuals, seasonal things,” says Kim. “Right now, we have a bunch of mums. Pretty soon we’ll be moving into the Christmas season with amaryllis, Christmas cactus, and a variety of Christmas plants. In addition to that, I am also seeing a real need for houseplants. There just really isn’t a place in Gettysburg where you can get a lot of nice foliage plants.”
To keep up with the change of seasons, the center will operate year-round. “The greenhouse will be heated, and we have areas where we can provide shade if needed for certain plants. If you want to come in and shop in the middle of February, we will have inventory available,” she says.
Woodie, Landon and Kim all stress the importance of supporting the community in various ways, and so sourcing plants locally is a priority. “We are working with local greenhouses, including Musselman’s, and other vendors are within a 20- to 30-mile radius. Each vendor does something different. It’s just nice to be able to source stuff locally—we’re all trying to support each other,” says Kim.
Growing Community Connections
Kim’s passion extends beyond sales; she foresees a variety of opportunities to educate the public about the importance of growing native plants and pollinator gardens. As a beekeeper, these are two things are very dear to her heart. “Having the native plants and having pollinators—it’s just really important,” she says. To that end, the garden center plans to host educational opportunities with master gardeners and community groups. “We’re definitely looking to make this, in addition to retail space, a place where we can have workshops and support the community.”
Future workshop ideas range from vegetable gardening and seed starting to container design and herb use in cooking. “This garden center is an opportunity to really connect with the community—and connect people within the community with each other,” Kim says.
More than anything, she wants people to feel welcome. “It’s obvious that you can come in here and buy plants, soil, pots—all that stuff. But for me, it’s more about the human connection. It’s when someone comes in and excitedly says, ‘I just planted some asclepias and now I have monarchs.’ Talking to gardeners about what we’re passionate about—that’s what I’m really looking for.”
Even for those who are new to gardening, the center aims to provide knowledge, resources and encouragement. “There are people who want to have a garden and don’t know how to do it,” she says. “That’s where I think we can help educate people on how to be successful.”
For Kim, the mission is simple: create a greenhouse that grows not just plants, but connections. “I’m excited and really, really happy. This just kind of dropped in my lap, but I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be.”
Propagating a Legacy
Today, Schmuck Lumber ranks among the top 100 lumber and hardware businesses nationwide, Woodie says. Yet even with growth, community remains at its core.
“Gettysburg is a fantastic town,” he says. “People there like local things, they like local people. I want a place that people are proud to go into and say, ‘Wow, I went to the Ace store in Gettysburg and they were so friendly and helpful.’ And then their neighbors come in, and it continues to grow from there.”
For Woodie, the legacy is ever apparent. “We’re still here, and we’re doing well growing in an era where very few companies are still around. Over a century and a half later, we’re going to do the best we can to always be here for the community,” he says.
Schmuck Lumber’s story is one of resilience, reinvention and deep community roots. From its humble beginnings in the mid-1800s to its modern-day expansion with Ace Hardware and a new greenhouse in Gettysburg, the company has balanced growth and tradition while always keeping people at the heart of its mission. By honoring its past and embracing innovation, Schmuck Lumber continues to build more than homes and gardens—it builds connections, strengthens communities and carries forward a legacy of service that has endured for more than 170 years.
Building Relationships at Schmuck Lumber Company
When you walk into Schmuck Lumber in Hanover, it’s more than just a trip to the hardware store—it’s an experience rooted in personal service and community connection. Where customer service can often be lost with self-checkout lines at big box stores, customers at Schmuck Lumber can enjoy personalized checkout and sales assistance.
As one of the oldest lumberyards in the country, Schmuck Lumber is a proud part of Hanover’s business landscape. The store offers everything from doors, windows and decking to kitchen and bath design services. They also provide carpentry services for window, door and railing installation for projects large or small. Whether you need a few things fixed or want to start a small remodeling project, Schmuck Lumber is prepared and poised to assist.
The Hanover location caters to both homeowners and contractors. “Most of our contractors develop a relationship with our people in the office,” says Schmuck Lumber President Thomas “Woodie” Whitman. “It’s like going to an old-time pharmacy where they know your name.” That same friendly approach extends to homeowners tackling weekend projects or home improvements. “You’re going to come in, see the same person and talk to them again when you’re back for more supplies,” he says. “That personalized service is something we do very well.”
Schmuck Lumber also gives back to the community, including supporting local youth sports, the YWCA and the Eichelberger Performing Arts Center. “We support as many nonprofits in the Hanover area as we can,” says Woodie.
To find out more about Schmuck Lumber and Gettysburg Ace Hardware, visit the Schmuck Lumber website at www.schmucklumber.com.
For announcements and information about future Ace Hardware workshops, visit the Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/schmucklumberacehardware.
