Having spent a good portion of my youth working in the woods with my father, Leroy W. Purdy, this topic comes naturally to me. In addition, I have authored several books on the topic, such as the Fruit Growers Supply Company and the Red River Lumber Company. Over the years I have gathered considerable material on not only those companies, but the smaller mills that existed prior to these large lumber outfits. In a future post, I will explore the 1907 logging bonanza of the Honey Lake Valley region. It was the first major exportation of lumber, as prior to that date, must lumber produced was for local consumption. Believe or not Honey Lake played an important role and finished lumber was shipped across the lake from near Buntingville to Amedee for shipment on the NCO Railroad. Stay tuned.
I remember talk of Camp 10 when I was very young. I think my Dad worked out of there briefly in the late 40’s before he got a job stacking lumber at the Fruit Growers mill in Susanville, so it was still operating then. I was 4 or 5 at the time. I think we drove out there once, maybe to pickup my uncle, who also worked there for a time. I recall it being quite a rough drive in those days. If I recall correctly it was somewhere near Hogs Flats. I also remember driving in that area and seeing a huge heard of deer grazing in the meadow. Back then, that was really out in the sticks and wildlife abounded.
I’m always amazed at how much timber was fell by two men and a handsaw and maybe an ax. My dad had one of those for many years. It may have been what he started logging with. I remember they would carry a can of engine oil with them to oil the saw with to keep it from binding up and to keep pitch from sticking to the blade. Keeping them sharp was a real craft. I had an uncle who became a saw sharpener. I think he may have done that at Camp 10, in fact.