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      • View All Cork Flooring

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      Trusted Brands

      • Amorim
      • Nature's Carpet
      • Kahrs
      • Nova
      • Forbo Marmoleum
      • Green Building Supply Bamboo
      • Pure Life Carpet by Kaleen
      • Tesoro Woods
      • Earth Weave
      • Unique Carpets, Ltd.
      • Teragren
      • Wicanders
      • J Mish
      • DriTac
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Learning Center

      • Which Floor is Right for Me?
      • How to Buy a Green Floor: 7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
      • Why we Don't sell Luxury Vinyl Tile!
      • Marmoleum Buyer's Guide
      • The Difference Between Waterproof and Water Resistant Flooring
      • 44 Reasons Why We Don't Sell Synthetic Carpeting
      • Bamboo Flooring Buyer's Guide
      • Why Is Our Flooring Different?
      • View All Learning Center
  • PAINTS & COATING
    • Non-Toxic Paints & Coatings

      • Paints & Primers
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      • Caulks, Sealants & Adhesives
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      • Wood Stains & Sealers
      • Odor Blocking Sealers
      • Grout Sealers
      • Concrete & Masonry Sealers
      • Polyurethane Sealers
      • Brushes & Tools
      • View All Paint Tools and Accessories
      • View All Non-Toxic Paints & Coatings

      Trusted Brands

      • Green Building Supply
      • AFM Safecoat
      • Bioshield
      • Rubio Monocoat
      • ECOS Paints
      • Silacote
      • Vermont Natural Coatings
      • Paperstone
      • Chemlink
      • Caliwel
      • Pro-Lab
      • Radiosity
      • Franmar
      • Gulf Synthetics
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Learning Center

      • ECOS Non-Toxic, Zero VOC Paint
      • How to Test a New Product for Chemical Sensitivity
      • AFM Safecoat Sealers for Off-Gassing
      • How do I know if a product is really safe?
      • What Makes a Healthy Paint
      • Samples
  • HOME GOODS
    • Energy, Water & Air

      • Air Purification
      • Lighting
      • Tubular Skylights
      • Test Kits & Energy Monitors
      • Insulation
      • Water Purification
      • View All Energy, Water & Air

      Eco Home Goods

      • Cutting Boards
      • Utensils
      • View All Eco Home Goods

      Cabinets & Countertops

      • Cabinets
      • Countertops
      • Non-Toxic Kitchens
      • View All Cabinets & Countertops

      Building Materials

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      • View All Building Materials

      Trusted Brands

      • Austin Air
      • Natural Light Energy Systems
      • EcoStar
      • Pro-Lab
      • Radiosity
      • AquaRain
      • Brava
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Learning Center

      • Air Purifiers: An Introduction
      • Using Marmoleum for Countertops and Wainscotings
      • All About Mold
      • Sustainable Solutions to Common Problems
      • Is solid wood T-1-11 safe for interior use?
      • Can a wood butcher block countertop be permanently sealed?
      • View All Learning Center
  • CLEANERS
    • Healthy Cleaners

      • Floor
      • Household
      • Mold & Mildew
      • Body Soaps
      • View All Healthy Cleaners

      Blissfully Clean

      • PerfectCLEAN Cloths
      • Extra Sponges
      • View All Blissfully Clean

      Trusted Brands

      • Green Building Supply
      • AFM Safecoat
      • Bioshield
      • Rubio Monocoat
      • Wools of New Zealand
      • Blissfully Clean
      • Forbo Marmoleum
      • Paperstone
      • Caliwel
      • Woodwise
      • Pro-Lab
      • Core Products HydrOxi Pro
      • Franmar
      • PerfectCLEAN
      •  
      •  
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Learning Center

      • What is the safest primer to use to get rid of tobacco smells in a home?
      • Sustainable Solutions to Common Problems
      • Blissfully Clean 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
      • Samples
      • View All Learning Center
  • ALL DEPARTMENTS
    • Sustainable Flooring

      • Cork Flooring
      • Marmoleum
      • Bamboo Flooring
      • Hardwood Flooring
      • Wool Carpet
      • Tools & Supplies
      • Adhesives & Underlayment
      • View All Sustainable Flooring

      Non-Toxic Paints & Coatings

      • Wood Stains & Sealers
      • Caulks, Sealants & Adhesives
      • Concrete & Masonry Sealers
      • Paints & Primers
      • Hardwood Floor Finish
      • Odor Blocking Sealers
      • Grout Sealers
      • Strippers & Thinners
      • Plasters & Pigments
      • Polyurethane Sealers
      • Brushes & Tools
      • View All Non-Toxic Paints & Coatings

      Eco Home Goods

      • Cutting Boards
      • Utensils
      • View All Eco Home Goods

      Cabinets & Countertops

      • Cabinets
      • Countertops
      • Non-Toxic Kitchens
      • View All Cabinets & Countertops

      Energy, Water & Air

      • Air Purification
      • Lighting
      • Tubular Skylights
      • Test Kits & Energy Monitors
      • Insulation
      • Water Purification
      • View All Energy, Water & Air

      Healthy Cleaners

      • Floor
      • Household
      • Mold & Mildew
      • Body Soaps
      • View All Healthy Cleaners

      Blissfully Clean

      • PerfectCLEAN Cloths
      • Extra Sponges
      • View All Blissfully Clean

      Building Materials

      • Roofing
      • Sheet Goods
      • View All Building Materials

      Shop By

      • Customer Favorites
      • Featured
      • On Sale
      • New Arrivals
      • Free Shipping

      Top Trusted Brands

      • Green Building Supply
      • Amorim
      • AFM Safecoat
      • Kahrs
      • Bioshield
      • ECOS Paints
      • Rubio Monocoat
      • Blissfully Clean
      • PerfectCLEAN Cloths
      • Forbo Marmoleum
      • Caliwel
      • Chemlink
      • Natural Light Energy Systems
      • Tesoro Woods
      • Unique Carpets, Ltd.
      • Earth Weave
      • Paperstone
      • Teragren
      • EcoStar
      • Core Products HydrOxi Pro
      • DriTac
      • Gulf Synthetics
      • J Mish
      • Franmar
      • Brava
      • Wicanders
      •  
      •  
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Top Articles

      • Why Is Our Flooring Different?
      • Why we don't sell luxury vinyl tile!
      • How to Buy a Green Floor: 7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
      • What Makes a Healthy Paint
      • AFM Safecoat Sealers for Off-Gassing
      • ECOS Non-Toxic, Zero VOC Paint
      • How do I know if a product is really safe?
      • How to Test a New Product for Chemical Sensitivity
      • All About Mold
      • Sustainable Solutions to Common Problems
      • Samples

      Learning Center Categories

      • Flooring
      • Paints & Coatings
      • Cabinets & Countertops
      • Cleaners
      • Energy, Water & Air
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About Us > Our Story > 
Our Story

Hirshberg Tradition of Excellence

by Joy Hirshberg

Two generations of Hirshbergs manage Green Building Supply as it continues more than a century-old family tradition of integrity, excellent service and great prices.

Grand Opening 1900 Hirshberg’s Big Store

Hirshberg’s Big Store was established in 1897 in Pigeon, Michigan by Abraham Hirshberg, Joel's great grandfather. This was the day when a dime would buy a pound of coffee; fine granulated sugar was 5.5¢/lb.; a can of Arm & Hammer baking soda cost a nickel; and 10 bars of Etna Soap sold for a total of 25¢.

Having emigrated from Russia with his wife Dina and sons just a few years earlier, Abraham’s immigrant English was far from perfect. His message of service and value, however, was always clear. An 1898 ad in the Pigeon Progress newspaper read, "Every department is filled with the Choicest Goods to be had in the market at lowest prices ever known here.” His reminder to shoppers: “Bring all your butter and eggs" for trade.

A new building in 1900

The upcoming "Grand Opening" for a new building was announced in 1900. The Progress ad read, "No one can afford to miss this great opportunity to see the most up-to-date store in the county."

Apparently few did miss it! The April 27, 1900 newspaper reported on the grand opening; it said, “On a very few occasions in the history of Pigeon has as many people visited our town. It is estimated that as many as two thousand people from different parts of the county came to our village to do buying."

Hirshberg's advertised the "largest stock in Huron County — dry goods, clothing, carpets, clocks, millinery, shoes, groceries, crockery and wallpaper." Abraham and his sons also sold hardware; then, beginning in 1909, they added Hirshberg's Furniture Store a block away that included items from sofas to pianos. The Hirshberg slogan was "Everything for the Family."

By 1901 the Huron County Republican reported that, "The new store of A. Hirshberg & Son at Pigeon is undoubtedly the best arranged and most complete in all its departments. The establishment has a thoroughly metropolitan air from the spacious shop windows, tastefully dressed, to the cashier's desk where the cash carrier system ends..." The cash carrier system transported money from the checkout counter to the cashier; she/he made change and sent the money back to the clerk at the counter.

At Your Service The pride of Pigeon, Michigan

Pigeon was quite pleased with A. Hirshberg & Son. The local newspaper printed a pen and ink drawing of the new building in 1901 and said, "The Progress takes particular pride in pointing out the splendid building and business conducted by A. Hirshberg & Son, because their establishment does much credit to the push and enterprise of the Pigeon people and demonstrates beyond doubt that the town has a splendid future before it.

"The people have the fullest faith, both in the firm's goods, their claims as to quality and their other generally fair methods of doing business, and in consequence they enjoy an unusually large and growing trade…

"Again the Progress repeats, the house of Hirshberg & Son is a credit both to Pigeon and its owners, and that it may long flourish and grow and prosper is the wish of all our people...".

From the 19th century to the 21st century

Joel, Joy and Aaron Hirshberg — and everyone we work with — warmly welcome you to Green Building Supply. We started our current chapter of the Hirshberg family business tradition in 1991, not knowing the history of Abraham and Dina Hirshberg; we only recently learned of their inspiring story.

May you enjoy sharing our present-day adventure where we offer “Everything green for the home builder.”

Copyright ©2009 Joy Hirshberg       All rights reserved.

Photos courtesy of the Pigeon Historical Society, Pigeon, Michigan

What is Green Building Supply? How We Research and Test our Products

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Welcome to Green Building Supply

Green Building Supply, founded in 1991, continues to be the nation's trusted source for the best non-toxic and eco-friendly building materials. We specialize in products that are safe for everyone—including the chemically sensitive—as well as safe for pets and the environment.

Whether you're remodeling or building a new green home, you'll find our experienced eco-advisors can help you choose the safest alternatives for your home. We ship nationwide.

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