Tag Archives: Westwood

Robert Stinson

April 24, 2015 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

In August 2013, I led a Westwood Cemetery tour as part of that community’s centennial celebration. The graves that were highlighted, provided a different aspect to Westwood and the Red River Lumber Company.

Robert Stinson was born in Quincy in 1882, and followed in his father’s footsteps as a commercial photographer. It was a tough trade to operate a business in a rural region. So like many others it became necessary to be itinerate traveling from community to community for business. In 1913, Red River hired Stinson as their company photographer, who at the time was located in Red Bluff. Stinson’s main job was to make a complete photographic inventory of all the buildings being constructed in the town, as well as the sawmill plant. A portion of this collection exists in the T.B. Walker papers housed with the Minnesota Historical Society. Stinson just happened to be at the right place at the right time, when Lassen Peak set off a series of volcanic eruptions beginning in 1914. Unfortunately, for Stinson and other photographers such as P.J. Thompson, are overshadowed by that B.F. Loomis, but that is another story, for another time. Stinson stay at Westwood was brief and left Red River in 1915 to be replaced Otto Kratzer. On a final note, Red River always had an in-house photographer, though they also hired others for commercial work.

History

Westwood Club

February 12, 2015 Tim Purdy Leave a comment

When the Red River Lumber Company established its company town of Westwood in 1913, it had to provide numerous amenities due to its remote location at the time. It was necessary to not only attract employees, but to retain them, as the lumber industry experienced a high turn over rate in labor. The Westwood Club was one of several facilities designed to meet the recreational needs of its employees. It included a restaurant, lunch counter, soda fountain, cigar and newsstand, barbershop, reading room and a billiard room.

On early Friday morning, March 31, 1944 a fire broke out in the Westwood Club though the cause, was never determined. Within twenty minutes the whole building was engulfed in flames. The heat so intense, that Nick Kannier’s automobile which was parked in front of building, burst into flames. Even neighboring buildings from across the street were smoking, on the verge of spontaneous combustion, which with quick action by the fire department prevented the same.

The J.R. Bartlett Company were the concessionaire of the Westwood Club, which included the clubhouse, cafe, pool hall, bar and lounge. There were four other tenants in the building—Ehorn’s Pharmacy, Quitman’s Apparel, Westwood Market and Kilpatric’s Used Furniture department. Estimated loss for all parties was placed at $125,000.

History

Logging

February 12, 2015 Tim Purdy 2 Comments

Red River Lumber Company tree fallers — Red River Lumber Company, 1915

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.

Camp 10 Fruit Growers Supply Company — Camp 10, Fruit Growers Supply Company, 1932