Walk into 15 Washington Street in Alexandria Bay and you'll smell it immediately. That specific, heavy scent of kiln-dried pine, machine oil, and floor wax. It's a smell that hasn't changed much since the early 1900s. Honestly, in a world where every hardware store feels like a sterile, orange-tinted warehouse, Charles Garlock & Sons is a bit of a time capsule—but don't let the nostalgia fool you.
Most people think of Garlock’s as just that "local Ace Hardware" where you grab a box of galvanized nails or a gallon of Benjamin Moore paint before heading out to the cottage.
You’ve probably seen their trucks around the Thousand Islands. Maybe you’ve even seen their massive barges hauling lumber across the St. Lawrence River. But there is a lot more going on behind that brick storefront than just retail. It’s a multi-generational construction powerhouse that basically built half the docks and custom homes you see dotting the river today.
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The 1905 Origin Story
Basically, this all started in 1905. The Garlock family opened a sawmill. Back then, if you wanted to build anything in the North Country, you weren't ordering it online; you were hauling logs to a mill. By 1913, they realized that selling the wood wasn't enough, so they started the contracting side of the house.
Today, it's a fifth-generation family business. Think about that for a second.
Five generations of the same family navigating the Great Depression, the transition from hand-saws to power tools, and the total shift in how people live on the river. It’s rare. Most family businesses die out by the third generation. The Garlocks didn't just survive; they expanded into a "Design Center" that rivals anything you’d find in a big city.
Why Charles Garlock & Sons is Different
If you’re just looking for a lightbulb, sure, go anywhere. But the reason people swear by Garlock’s involves the "Island Factor."
Island construction is a logistical nightmare. You can't just park a van in the driveway. You need barges. You need a crew that is comfortable working on a dock in late November when the wind coming off the St. Lawrence feels like it’s cutting through bone.
The Fleet and the Crew
Garlock Contracting operates with a year-round crew of about 10 to 15 carpenters. That’s a tight-knit group. They are known for their "heavy lift" capabilities—literally. They have the barges and specialized equipment necessary to get 5,000-square-foot home materials onto a pile of granite in the middle of the river.
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- Custom Home Builds: They aren't just doing "cookie-cutter" stuff. We're talking custom designs from the ground up.
- Marine Construction: Docks, boat houses, and shoreline stabilization.
- The Design Center: This is where the "sons" (and daughters, like owner Mckenzie Garlock) have modernized. They do full-scale kitchen and bath design with brands like Cambria Quartz and American Olean.
What Most People Get Wrong
There's a common misconception that local hardware stores are more expensive than the big-box giants. Honestly, if you're comparing a single screw, maybe. But when you factor in the "knowledge tax," the math changes.
If you go to a massive retailer, you’re lucky to find someone who knows the difference between a lag bolt and a carriage bolt. At Charles Garlock & Sons, you’re usually talking to people who have actually used the tools they’re selling. Josh Brown and the rest of the staff handle everything from small engine repair to complex paint color matching.
They also run a USPS contract postal unit inside the store. It's a weirdly convenient hybrid of a lumber yard, a boutique design center, and a post office.
Real Expertise in the Thousand Islands
Let's talk about the river. The St. Lawrence is a harsh environment. The humidity, the ice shove in the spring, and the constant moisture mean you can't just use standard building practices.
Garlock's reputation is built on knowing which materials actually hold up. They sell specific deck and siding stains (like those from Benjamin Moore and INSL-X) because they know what the sun reflecting off the water does to wood.
"We later accepted his offer and he adjusted his work schedule so as to do the installation when we were in residence... New windows look and work great." — This is a common sentiment in local reviews. It’s about the "summer home" reality.
In Alexandria Bay, a huge portion of the population is seasonal. If a contractor isn't willing to work around the short window of time owners are actually in the state, they don't last. Garlock has built their entire scheduling model around that reality.
The Services Nobody Realizes They Offer
Most people know about the lumber and the hammers. But did you know they do:
- Propane Refills: Essential for those island BBQs.
- Small Engine Repair: Because your lawnmower will inevitably break the Saturday before a big party.
- Rental Equipment: Sometimes you just need a specialized tool for four hours.
- Full-Service Shipping: Since it's an authorized UPS provider, you can literally drop off a return while you're picking up your plumbing supplies.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Project
If you are planning a project in the Alexandria Bay area, don't just wing it.
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First, stop by the Washington Street location and ask to see the Design Center. It’s the best way to see the actual slabs of quartz and tile patterns in person rather than on a screen. Screens lie about color; granite doesn't.
Second, if you're doing island work, get on their schedule early. Their crew works through the winter—often found on the ice until February—but the prime summer slots fill up fast.
Finally, use their experts for paint matching. Bring in a flake of that old cottage siding you're trying to match. They have the tech to scan it, but more importantly, they have the eyes of people who have been looking at those specific shades of "River Blue" for decades.
Whether it's a full home build or just a new mailbox post, the value is in the legacy. You’re not just buying wood; you’re buying 120 years of knowing how to keep a building standing in the North Country.