Porters Building Centers began as Kearney Lumber Company on June 7th of 1952. The company started in what was an abandoned mule barn in Kearney, Missouri by Mack and Mary Helen Porter. Mack cashed in the revenue generated from two years of teaching math, science, and coaching. Mary Helen sold her new car. The company has grown to seven locations. We have two contractor and distribution yards in Mosby and Kansas City, each with rail spurs and five traditional lumberyard-home centers in Kearney (headquarters), Cameron, Laurie, and Greenview in Missouri & Elwood in Kansas. Porters stock many fine products other than those that you would find in an Ace Hardware store. . We also feature Porter paints. We purchase our lumber direct from the mills with quality as our first consideration.