Darlington Veneer celebrates 100 years
The year 2018 marks the 100-year anniversary of Darlington Veneer Company. DVC is currently under the third generation leadership of the Ramsey Family. Being part of this long heritage and tradition is a source of great pride for our employees, families, customers and community.
1918 Darlington Veneer Company opens a single ply veneer mill with logs purchased from local farms that are peeled on a rotary lathe. One of the first customers was Radio Corp of America/Victor Talking Machine. DVC had 15 employees.
1923 Ford Motor Company chooses Darlington Veneer for their vehicle detailing and running boards.
1930 As veneer furniture becomes more fashionable, Darlington Veneer responds with increased production. American Tobacco Company is a good customer with their need for hardwood plywood to construct their cigar boxes. They also began creating stock panels for the building trade.
1937 On January 5th, a devastating fire destroys Plant 1. The fire began in the dry kiln and was past the point of recovery by the time the firemen arrived. However, the fire department was able to keep the flames from spreading to the other buildings. At the time of the first newspaper publications reporting the fire, it was unknown if Darlington Veneer would rebuild.
1943 Darlington Veneer joins the war effort. With the rampage of World War II, the US Government call on Darlington Veneer to build plywood to be used in the Navy’s new Liberty Ships. Darlington Veneer answers the call by shipping railcar loads of the hardwood plywood to aid in the war effort and is awarded for “Excellence in Production” by the United States War Office. 
1946 After the war, with machinery easily available again, a complete modernization of the mill begins, just in time to meet the demand of the post-war building flourish taking place across the country. The building boom was so great that letters would arrive at the mill stating, ‘send a (train) carload of plywood, any species, any grade,’ with no mention or question as to price.
1950 Darlington Veneer Company acquires the trade name ‘Permawood’ in reference to our finished, grooved interior wall paneling.
1955 By this date, Darlington Veneer employs 200 people and is boasting sales by offering pre-finished panels. Three new buildings are added and new equipment is purchased along with purchasing timberland and acquiring new species of hardwood. Darlington Veneer Company emerges as a premier supplier to builders, architects, and craftsmen across the nation who appreciates the quality of our hardwood panels.
1965 To keep up with the ever-growing demand, new plywood pressers and sanders are purchased. During this era, Darlington Veneer Company’s product offerings ranged from upholstered frame stock and hardwood plywood to prefinished, grooved paneling and architectural custom doors. 
1976 A fire broke out in Plant 3 due to a faulty electric motor. The local city fire department fought the blaze for 24 hours finally bringing it under control in the wee hours in morning the following day. Thousands of veneer faces were lost however, Darlington Veneer was lucky; the skilled firemen were able to keep the flames from spreading and burning the mill to the ground.
1986 Darlington Veneer is named one of the Top 100 Privately Owned Companies in South Carolina. Ranked 24th, based on sales volume, which approached $100 million annually, they also had the distinction of being the highest ranked in the Pee Dee area of the state.
1991 As technology advances, so does Darlington Veneer with the addition of new saws and sanding equipment.
2000 With the era of the personal computers being ushered in, Darlington Veneer joins the Information Age and installs a PC for everyone in the office. The office staff is sent to Columbia for training. Salesmen take on the responsibility of order entry and no longer rely on assistants for the task.
2017 After 47 years with the company, Reggie Hubbard retires as the General Manager of Darlington Veneer. Pat Lynch is hired as his replacement.
2018 Darlington Veneer celebrates its first 100 years.
