About Cowls Building Supply

Located in The Mill District of North Amherst, Cowls Building Supply has proudly served the Pioneer Valley for generations. As a family-owned business now operated by 9th-generation owners Evan and Cinda Jones, we combine time-tested expertise with innovative solutions to meet the needs of today’s contractors, remodelers, and DIY enthusiasts.

We specialize in high-quality building materials, offering everything from lumber, hardware, and tools to paint, windows, and doors. Our expansive offerings include a Kitchen & Bath Design Showroom, a Benjamin Moore Paint Center, and a Window and Door Showroom, making us a one-stop destination for any home improvement or construction project.

Whether you’re breaking ground on a new home, remodeling a kitchen, or tackling a DIY project, our experienced team is here to guide you every step of the way—from product selection to project planning and custom designs.

With a legacy built on trust and a commitment to innovation, Cowls Building Supply remains the Pioneer Valley’s premier choice for building materials, expert advice, and personalized service. We are proud to be members of the following associations.

Evan & Cinda Jones – Ownership

A Story of Generational Legacy

Throughout its nine generations of family ownership, Cowls Building Supply has been unique among the lumber and building materials businesses in the Pioneer Valley and neighboring regions. Constantly evolving, it has grown from offering timber and hardware to providing a wide range of quality products and services to professional contractors, remodelers, and do-it-yourselfer.

It started when Jonathan Cowls crossed the Connecticut River from Hatfield with his family. They were one of the first five families to settle land in what was then Hadley and is now North Amherst. Over the next 270+ years, the Cowls family purchased timberlands in approximately thirty other towns in Hampshire and Franklin counties, winning numerous awards along the way for sustainability and forest stewardship.

In 1980, Paul C. Jones, 8th Generation Cowls, opened Cowls Building Supply. The store quickly became a successful, full-line, full-service retailer of lumber, paint, hardware and building materials. More recently, the new Kitchen Design Center and Door and Window Showrooms were added to further their service offerings.

While the Cowls Sawmill closed in 2010, W. D. Cowls, Inc. Land Company has set new goals for sustainable forestry, land conservation, alternative energy, and environmentally-conscious development. Today, you can still find the 9th generation of Jonathan Cowls’ descendants, Evan Jones and Cinda Jones, at the forefront of that mission.