In 1905 the brothers Wilson B. and Albert H Stockham and James Zaninetti became owners of serval parcels of land in the area. Orlen Kitch purchased the property in 1912. He owned and operated the first sawmill on Grand Mesa. After establishing the Sawmill, he and a partner opened Cedaredge Lumber. The Warranty deed from Zaninetti to Kitch was dated 1912.

Records of the Surface Creek Champion showed a major fire at the Lumber yard on Saturday September 1933. Thanks to the quick response of the fire department, its equipment and good water pressure, most of the buildings were saved.

Webb Bryson and Warren Brewer bought the lumber yard in 1950. Since that day, there has been a Bryson or a relative the the Bryson family working at the yard. Bill Bryson, Webbs son, managed the yard for many years. Susan Kunkel, Granddaughter of Webb, is the current President of the company and started at the yard in 1979.

Art Lindsey purchased the yard in 1968. In 1999, Art changed the name to Big Johns Lumber. Many remodels of the location have occurred over the years. Changing from a True Value store to the Present ACE Hardware in 1999. The Business sold in 2012 and again in 2019, to the present owners, Jeremy Lowry and Andy Abrams from the Salt Lake City area. They trust the employees to take care of the company and customers completely.

In 1968 the inventory value was $48,000.00 and the yard had 4 employees. Today Big Johns have over 1 million dollars in Inventory and employs 24 people. Big Johns Store manager has been with the company for over 30 years, 3 staff members 20 to 26 years, 5 staff members 10 to 15 years.

Big Johns may well be the oldest business still in one location in Cedaredge!