Awhile back Kay Ole Leary wrote: “I am making a book out of my mother’s memories of growing up in lumber mill towns. One of her vivid memories was of being warned to NEVER play in the sawdust piles, no matter how much fun it looked like it would be to do so. The spontaneous combustion inside the piles would create pockets of fire, leading to, in her words, “a horrible death.”“I am illustrating her stories with the many photographs my grandfather took of his family and the places they lived. Unfortunately, the only photos of the Pine Ridge Forest Lumber Company Lumber Mill we have are of the log yard and log pond (each with their own stories), but none of the sawdust piles.
I have searched (online) historical archives and have contacted several PNW historical societies, all to no avail.
“May I, please, giving credit as you direct, use one of your sawdust photos in my book? I like the lower one, without the telephone pole, better. I would very much appreciate your permission, and would not use it without your permission. Thank you for considering my request.”
Of course, I was able to assist. From to time people start writing memoirs, usually at the urging of a family member. They happen on my site, and a popular request is the Westwood Hospital. This is why there is a no paywall. However, there are some people that blatantly abuse the privilege, and there is one person that copies the photographs and profits by doing so. As the saying goes, it takes all kinds.
Tim