About Us
A legacy of honesty, integrity and commitment
The Paulsen family’s American heritage began with the emigration of young carpenter Karl A. Paulsen from Germany in 1930. By virtue of a tenacious adherence to values based on integrity and a strong work ethic, with some good fortune along the way, Karl Paulsen was one who achieved the American Dream.
In the 1930s Karl began by enclosing porches, some of which can still be seen today on many of Albany’s older homes with their trademark sunburst signature. In 1952, spurred on by the requests of neighbors, he started selling lumber out of his home millwork shop. From this humble beginning, Paulsen Lumber would become a multi-million dollar fixture on Railroad Avenue in Albany.
In the 1960s Karl and his well experienced sons Rudy and Bill became contractors. They built not only manufactured garages and single-family homes but also large apartment complexes. Karl Paulsen had established the current foundation of the Paulsen family business: Residential Construction.
Beyond his business achievements, Karl Paulsen was successful in more important ways. He earned wide respect among his peers for his high standards and became a community leader. At the time of his death in 2000, he was the beloved patriarch of a family who can all trace their achievements to the principles Karl A. Paulsen established 70 years earlier. Karl’s spirit of honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect for others still guides our company today.