Tag Archives: Red River Lumber Company

Our Lady of the Snows

October 18, 2026 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

When Westwood was established, its Catholic community was a part of the Sacred Heart Parish—it had only been created in 1912 and covered the territory of Lassen and Modoc counties. The first pastor was Father P.J. O’Reilly. There seems to be some confusion as to when the first Mass was celebrated in Westwood. On December 12, 1913, it was reported in the Lassen Weekly Mail: “Father P.J. O’Reilly made the trip to Westwood to attend to spiritual wants of the Catholic Church in the new lumber town.” However, under the heading of Remarks in the Parish Death Register, Father O’Reilly wrote, “Mass was celebrated in Westwood for the first time by Rev. P.J. O’Reilly on 19 April 1914 in the school house situated near the present fire department. Mass is now said in the school situated on the hill facing Delwood Street.” Father also wrote, “The first Catholic funeral that was held in Westwood was on July 24, 1914. The internment was made in the new cemetery, portion of which viz the North East section is devoted to the use of the Catholics who die in and around Westwood for Catholics only. This cemetery is 3 1/2 miles from Westwood.” That internment was for Jose Alvarez, a 22 year-old millworker who died from typhoid fever. Continue reading Our Lady of the Snows →

History

Building Westwood

October 12, 2026 Tim Purdy 1 Comment

One of the nice features using this forum, instead of traditional print, some photographs will not print well. The above is a perfect example, yet it is an interesting photograph. This is at 501 Main Street, now Uptown Cinemas. This caravan of equipment is headed to Westwood while the first sawmill was under construction. Courtesy of Marcella Mathews Searles.

When the Red River Lumber Company finally decided, or actually more to the point Fletcher Walker demanded the Mountain Meadows location or otherwise he was going to quit, there were numerous hurdles to overcome.

During the initial construction phase of 1912-13, everything would have to be freighted in, while the railroad was under construction, and it would not be completed to Westwood until February 1914.

Highway 36 Fredonyer — The road over Fredonyer as it appeared in 1914.

The bulk of the machinery was shipped by rail on the Western Pacific to Doyle. Smaller shipments also went by the Western Pacific to Keddie. In either instance, that is still a long haul for all the machinery to build one of the largest electric sawmills. In addition, all the auxiliary items needed to build a company town. This is before paved highways no less, and the truck traffic certainly made its imprint on the roads, though not in a favorable way.

Tim

History

Good Financial Cents

September 26, 2026 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

When Fruit Growers Supply Company embarked on the establishment of its Lassen Operation it was a costly affair. It required a four million dollar investment. They did this with a bond measure. When the growers established the operation in 1919, they agreed assessed themselves two-cents per box. In addition, for every 1,000 board feet lumber sold, four dollars was budgeted to pay off the bonds, generating $300,000 annually.. In 1934, Fruit Growers paid off their debt, two years ahead of schedule.

On the other hand Red River created its own financial crisis delaying their bond payments, with the kick can down the road approach. In the early 1930s, there was a day of reckoning with banks and bondholders that forever changed the company.

Tim

History

Conversion from Horse to Tractor Logging

September 20, 2026 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

horse logging — Horse logging with big wheels, at Fruit Growers Camp B, north of McCoy Flat Reservoir.

When Fruit Growers inspected the Collins timber tract west Eagle Lake, they were not only impressed by the timber, but the terrain. It was estimated that 80% of the tract could be horse logged with big wheels versus steam donkeys. Caterpillar tractors were in its infancy stage of development, but would accelerate during World War I. Horse logging had its drawback as it labor intensive. This was due to the fact that they required “swamper.s” Swampers were men hired clear brush and other debris to clear a path to reduce injuries to horses legs. While steam donkeys were used in terrain not suitable for horses had their drawbacks. Sparks from the steam donkeys were a fire hazard. By the late 1920s, both Fruit Growers and Red River converted entirely motorized tractors logging. It would take several decades to convert from railroad to truck logging.

Tim

History

Fletcher’s Opinion

September 9, 2026 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

There are certain people that they get. attached to something, that they hard a hard time moving on. Fletcher Walker, Red River’s Resident Manager of Westwood resided there since 1913 and he remained in that community when it was solo Fruit Growers in 1944.. It should be noted that Fletcher was instrumental in the planing and the construction of Westwood Some residents have fond memories of Fletcher, similar to that of the patriachal figure.

So it was no surprise Fletcher game his opinion freely to Fruit Growers concerning the operations.In a letter dated September 17, 1948 to Fruit Growers criticize the company on many fronts. There was of course, the uncertainty of Westwood, however, that situations known throughout the community before Fruit Growers purchase. Fletcher was critical of Fruit Growers who raised the logging camp board, though in reality logging camps were expensive operation. Fletcher also questioned “cutting $300.00 lumber into $80.00 shook.

Fletcher finally wrote: “If this plant were run to capacity there were would be a profit very close to $1,000,000.00 per month, which is quite a lot of folding money.”

Tim

History

Timberlands & Indian Allottments

August 8, 2026 Tim Purdy 1 Comment

A Red River timber faller preparing to do his job 1915.

Awhile back, I received this message: “I was born in Susanville. I am related to the Peconom family, Joaquins, Dixons. I was just reading about the vast land owned by the Red River Lumber Company (800,000 acres). No where do I see how many of these acres were manipulatively stolen from the Indians. I have checked the government land records for the 160 acre parcels that many of my ancestors owned. They were quickly sold for $200, an old pickup truck, or maybe shack somewhere. I think you need to be honest about the real history of Lassen/Plumas counties.”

For starters it is complex story how Red River and other large timber companies like Collins and Weyerhauser acquired their lands.These include the 1897 Forest Lieu Exchange Act and the Timber and Stone Act of 1878. As to writer’s statement, some background is needed. In 1887, Congress passed the General Allotment Act also known as the Dawes Act. It is a complicated story, however, for Indians not on tribal reservations they were entitled land allotments up to 160 acres. Locally, a majority of these Indian allotments were timberlands. In 1914, two years after Red River established Westwood, the Bureau of Indian Affairs held a public auction of lands the writer referred to. Red River purchased those lands that were located in Mountain Meadows.

Tim

History

Tuesday Tidbit – Old Town Rents

July 28, 2026 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

On October 1, 1935 Maria Ramos signed a lease for a home in Old Town (Westwood) with the Red River Lumber Company. The rent payment would be deducted from her pay check. One could not rent in Westwood without being a Red River employee.

Westwood’s Old Town. Courtesy of Hank Martinez

For those not familiar with Old Town, it is now referred to as a Pine Town. In an essence it is the original town of Westwood, while the latter was still under construction on the other side of the millpond.

Tim

History, News

House of Walker

June 19, 2026 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

Camp 38, Red River Lumber Company, 1922. It was located on the east shore of Lake Almanor. Courtesy of R.S. Pershing

The family dynamics of the Red River Lumber Company is fascinating. While founder, T.B. Walker, in his western expansion was meant that his five sons would be in charge. While that was noble, it did not turn out the way he envisioned. Three of brothers, Clinton, Fletcher and Willis would relocate to California, while Gilbert and Archie remained in Minnesota.

Clinton was the first t arrive in California as he assisted his father with the acquisition of the California timberland. It was Clinton’s first hand knowledge of the California timber, that he would be at odds with his brothers. Clinton was early day supporter of control timber burns. In the 1930s, Red River faced a myriad of problems. In a letter, dated August 10, 1935, Clinton wrote his brother, Archie, about his thoughts of the condition of Red River’s California forest. For posterity is the following excerpt:

“It is regrettable that the house of Walker has no forest man. Kenneth covers the nearest but he seems to be absorbed in the performance of log contracts; our annual fire and insect losses are staggering. A systematic annual light burning at the right season of the year would reduce and ultimately eliminate these sources of loss and the cost would be insignificant as compared to the loss and yearly increasing fire hazard conditions in the forests. Burning by means of power burners on or dragged behind tractors could be done very cheaply and the prospective danger of injuring hollow hulled trees could be eliminated by following the burning with a few shovelers. For the entire period of the Walker family timber operation we have centered our attention largely or almost exclusively to lumber operation. Kilne followed the woods and logging and now Willis is attending to the contract writing in log sales matters but little if any thought is be given to Forest matters. I think the Forest bill Introduced in Washington should be followed up and that a competent forest engineer should be working on our forest matters. We are doing nothing but slash down that wonderful forest and letting the fire and beetles burn and eat us down year by year without raising a hand or a voice to afford protection from these annual staggering losses. ”

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P.S. I have it on good authority that final load of the archives arrives today. However, it is going to take time organize all those documents.

History

Not Your Typical Log Landing

June 8, 2026 Tim Purdy 2 Comments

Camp 20, RedRiverLumber Company Courtesy ofD.B. Martin

The logging terminology might be foreign for some, since around this territory harks back to a different era. A landing is a site where logs are skidded and then decked before loading on rail cars or trucks. This haphazard log deck was taken at Camp 20 of the Red River Lumber Company, circa 1918. Since I am a logger’s son, Dad would have a fit if he had an encounter scene like this. I like express my gratitude to David Martin, who sent me this photograph along with a get well card. It really brightened my day. It is an example, how the archives keep expanding. I think my volunteer packers/movers were a bit overwhelmed of a portion of the accumulation.

Tim

History

Westwood’s Fire Train

May 6, 2026 Tim Purdy 2 Comments

he winter of 1923-24, was one of the driest on record in California. That summer another record would be broken–forest fires. It was June, 1924, when the Red River Lumber Company having been in operation for over a decade experienced its first major forest fire. The fire broke out at Chester Flats between Camps 34 and 38 and burned a narrow strip of land, eight miles in length. Red River’s loss was minimal as the fire burned recently logged over land and the only significant damage was 500 cords of wood burned along 1,000 feet of railroad track. Red River considered its biggest loss was to the men fighting the fire which cost the company a $1,000 a day in wages, and it took a week to contain the fire. Continue reading Westwood’s Fire Train →