The Red River Lumber Company was headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With its westward expansion to California and the establishment of its company town there, required extensive communications back and forth. For a historian, it was wonderful due to the paper trail. What is truly amazing is how much has been preserved at the Minnesota Historical Society.

The various members of the Walker family, the owners of Red River, were prolific letter writers.  Fletcher Walker, who was the resident manager at Westwood had to write in great detail about the conditions in California, since everything operated so differently than in Minnesota.

The letters, of course, also contained happenings around Westwood. Whether it was the political scene, or what their competitors were doing. With that in mind, I share a letter that Fletcher wrote to his father, T.B. Walker, exactly one hundred years to the date. You will note the letter is addressed to T.B. Walker in New York and not Minnesota. T.B. Walker then was spending a lot of time in New York wheeling and dealing as part of a re-finance bond sale for the Westwood operations.

Fletcher Walker’s Letter

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From time to time, someone will approach me about buried treasures.  Some stories have been embellished over the years, especially that of Harry Gordier’s gold and the Holden Dick Mine.

Then there are the lesser known tales, which are actually true,and not folklore. In the book Untold Stories, I relate the story of Chauncey Smith, since only a portion of his hidden cache of money was ever found.  There is, of course, the great Westwood bank robbery, that to this day the money has never been recovered. In August, 1926 a portion of Red River’s monthly payroll shipment consisting of $45,000 never made it Westwood from the Reno bank. One theory was the money was stashed along the mountainside between Doyle and Milford. In June 1927, Red River thought they had found thief, in one A.A. Bruce who formerly worked for the railway express offices in Reno and Westwood. Bruce was arrested and his Reno home searched. However, when a preliminary hearing was held in Susanville, Bruce was released from custody as there was insufficient evidence to charge him with the crime. No one was ever charged, and the money never found.

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Company towns as a rule were a drab affair and Westwood was of no exception. After all paint cost money, and it was not a necessary expense.

In the 1930s, the Red River Lumber Company was in a major financial crisis.  When 1940 arrived, and not a moment to soon,  discussion of modernization of the lumber plant  was in earnest. It was not only their plans to make substantial upgrades to the plant, but the town, too. These improvements were necessary if they wanted to sell its operation, though not all family members of Red River’s Board of Directors were in agreement. However, the majority wanted to sell Westwood and get out from under it, so they were willing to figure out to make the improvements under the financial duress they were under.

The unpainted residential district did not help matters in making the place look nice for prospective buyers. It needed sprucing up. One item discussed was to paint the houses. Clinton Walker, a family board member, was against the proposal unless the rents were raised to cover the costs.

While, the concept was shot down, it was also discussed to sale the houses and lots to employees for cash, the value would be the equivalent of four years rent. There would be one deed restriction, that the houses could only be used for residential purposes. Should someone attempt a business in a home the company would have the right to repossess it.

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Just as Red River Lumber Company’s large manufacturing plant, its millpond was larger than average. Actually it was huge, it had a surface area of nearly 320 acres, though some segments were not used too much, certain areas being to shallow. In contrast, McCloud’s millpond was only eight acres and Fruit Growers was 20 acres.

This odd man made lake could be hazardous to one’s health. During the early years, swimming was common, as well as fishing. Of course, small children were attracted to the water, and that is the story of seven-year-old David Rosas of Old Town. Several of his companions were playing in the water on July 4, 1928, when David ventured out too far, and the depth of the water changed dramatically. He, nor his companions knew how to swim. His friends went to get help, and when help arrived it was too late. The grieving family buried him later that day.

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A reader wrote : “Hi. Tim! I know there are much more positive aspects about the history of Westwood that people would find interesting. It seems to me that using “Westwood Rumor Mill” and “Westwood’s Deportation of Immigrants”  as the titles puts negative thoughts about our town in the reader’s mind right from the get go.  Have you posted any other articles about Westwood that can show me that I have jumped to the wrong conclusion here? I sincerely hope so, as I truly enjoy your other work. You are an amazing historian! Hoping to hear from you.”
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