1961: A Fire in Warroad and a Guide for the Future

How adversity solidified Marvin’s belief in community and helped drive what Marvin would become.

It’s one of the defining moments in Marvin history: the massive plant fire that would change both the trajectory of the company and reinforce the Marvin commitment to its Warroad, Minnesota, headquarters. The tragedy of the fire only strengthened the idea that Marvin and the communities it’s a part of are inextricably linked. That mindset is one of the guiding principles of the company to this day, nearly 115 years since its founding. Here is the story of June 27, 1961, and how it helped shape the Marvin of today.

On a summer day in 1961, Marvin plant manager Bob Wenzel was out fishing on Lake of the Woods when his neighbor came rushing out onto the water by boat: the Marvin plant, he said, was on fire.

When Bob reached the shore, he broke out running toward the facility, which was by that time completely engulfed in flames. Employees, who had been in the middle of their shift when the blaze broke out, later reported hearing paint barrels exploding from the intense heat.

The Warroad Volunteer Fire Department, which included Marvin family members and employees, fought the blaze, aided by volunteer crews from surrounding communities. While their efforts stopped the fire’s spread, there was no hope for saving the Marvin facility. It was a total loss.

Company founder George G. Marvin was amongst those on the scene. He summarized the moment plainly: “There goes sixty years of work.”

In the fire’s aftermath, only one piece of equipment remained: a forklift. A full loading dock of finished products and countless window parts were destroyed in the fire. Insurance would cover only half of the estimated financial loss, leaving the future uncertain for Marvin and its employees.

While no one was injured, careers were in limbo as the Marvin family considered the path forward. Communities near and far invited Marvin to relocate and reestablish operations in their cities. But to the family, that idea was inconceivable.

George’s son, R.A. ‘Tut’ Marvin, exclaimed, “By God, this is home. I’m staying here if I have to dig ditches.”

By God, this is home. I’m staying here if I have to dig ditches.”

R.A. ‘Tut’ Marvin

Son of Marvin founder George G. Marvin

For Marvin, Warroad was — and is — more than just a place. It’s the heart and soul of the company, instrumental to the people-first values Marvin has operated by for over a century. When George started Marvin Cedar & Lumber Co. in 1912, his goals included giving back to his community and offering meaningful career opportunities in Warroad. Faced with starting over in the wake of the fire’s destruction, he promised, “We’ll start tomorrow, and we’ll build it bigger and better.”

Those sentiments paved the way for Marvin’s successful rebuilding in Warroad, restoring jobs for those who had lost them and growing the company’s operations.

We’ll start tomorrow, and we’ll build it bigger and better.”

George G. Marvin

Marvin founder

Marvin’s commitment to Warroad only begins with offering meaningful careers. It’s here that the company has developed a first-of-its-kind mechatronics program, the Advanced Resource Center, in partnership with Northland Community College. Marvin employees share their expertise as mentors for Warroad schools’ award-winning robotics teams. Colleagues come together to raise money and share their time with local causes that make a difference through Giving at Marvin, which extends across Marvin’s sixteen locations throughout the country.

Just as George modeled, Marvin continues to live up to his decades-old promise: investment in people and communities, in Warroad and beyond.

“This story embodies a mindset that remains integral to our values to this day: to believe it’s possible and that we’re stronger together,” said Christine Marvin, chief customer officer. “Even with the odds stacked against them, my great-grandfather, great-uncles, and grandfather felt called to rebuild operations and restore jobs in the place they called home. It was not the easy choice, but it was the right one. The decisions made during this unimaginable hardship demonstrate a deep commitment to people — one that the fourth and fifth generations of the Marvin family continue to honor from our Warroad headquarters and across the country.”

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Interior of updated Marvin Warroad headquarters