Sign makers have had a busy time this spring, thanks in part to a robust number of acquisitions, openings and closures at construction supply facilities across America.

Among the openings: John H. Myers & Son of York, Pa., opened a lumberyard in Aberdeen, Md., its first location in the Free State; Ohio-based Carter Lumber plans to open by June 1 a lumberyard and manufacturing facility in Franklin, Ind., south of Indianapolis; National Industrial Lumber Co., also of Ohio, has begun operating in Indianapolis; Arrowhead Building Supply says it will open a branch in Hollister, Mo.; Ring's End Lumber has opened its ninth store, a 10,000-square-foot paint and design center in a shopping complex in Norwalk, Conn.; Matheus Lumber opened a sales office in Chandler, Ariz.; and ProBuild will open new locations in Orem, Utah, and Winchester, Va.

The pace for deals was just as intense: Stock Building Supply acquired many of the assets of National Home Centers of Springdale, Ark.; U.S. LBM Holdings completed its purchaseof Edward Hines Lumber of the Chicago area and Hines' Indianapolis area subsidiary, Hall & House; a federal district judge in Portland, Ore., approved Millman Lumber's purchase of North Pacific's building material distribution facilities in both Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis; the owner of Britton's Lumber Landscape & Feed in Woodstock, Vt., sold his facility to Bethel Mills so that he can run for the U.S. Senate; and Oakland, Calif.-based Economy Lumber announced it has acquired the Oakland branch of Piedmont Lumber & Mill.

There were at least two changes in ownership. One day after Huth Lumber closed up shop in Cottonwood Falls, Kan., it reopened as Shep's Lumber and Hardware. And while Norvell & Wallace of Nashville, Tenn., has closed after 130 years in business, the facility has been purchased by new management that has renamed it Nashville Lumber.

Meanwhile, 84 Lumber closed 10 more locations and exited Idaho and Wisconsin, while I.N.R. Beatty Lumber closed its Beecher, Ill, facility. And the corporate parent of White House (Tenn.) Home Center has filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy laws. The company plans to reorganize and re-emerge as a surplus warehouse with a lumberyard and hardware store.