Our History

Price & Visser Millwork was founded in 1938; In the same year in which the 9th Olympic games were held in Amsterdam, Kate Smith first sang “God Bless America” and Superman comics first appeared, Walter Price Sr. left his job at Western Woodworking Co. and set up shop in the barn behind his house.

The roots of the company reach back to Europe where Pieter Visser, grandfather of current co-owner Rob Visser, hand painted “Makkum’s Tichelaar” tiles and pottery in Holland, an art dating back to the Renaissance. Pieter came to America in 1914 and Pieter Visser took up farming. Pieter always kept his love of craftsmanship as you can see in the photo of him working on one of the many scale wooden ships he made by hand.
In 1919, Abner Price, the son of Welsh immigrants and great grandfather of current co-owner Steve Price, left Toronto where he made bicycles and moved to California. There he and his son, Walter Price Sr. worked as builders and finish carpenters. Money flowed like water in the roaring 20’s and it was not uncommon for the wealthy including many movies stars to build something great, only to decided to tear it out and build it over again even better. All that ended with the stock market crash in 1929 and the Prices moved to Bellingham, where Walter Sr. found a job in one of the large woodworking shops in the area.

Walter Sr. was joined by his son Walter Jr. in 1945. In 1947 they found themselves with more work than space, and decided to build our present building beside the house, where the apple orchard once stood.

In 1965 Steve Price, then in high school, began as a part time cabinet scraper and sander, he became a partner in 1973. In 1978, Rob Visser joined the business as a partner, after returning from Europe where he played basketball for a Dutch team for two seasons.

During this period, the business has grown and changed with the times. Price and Visser remains a unique and diversified business, ready to meet the varied needs of both our residential and commercial customers.

Tim and Brenda Roosma bought the business in 2022.

Phone: 360-734-7700
Email: info@priceandvisser.com
Address: 2536 Valencia St., Bellingham, WA 98226