Yesterday’s photograph featured the dynamiting of the Westwood millpond and the freeze of 1949. There was a side affect of that freeze. The freeze reduced California’s citrus crop, and in turn reduced the need of wooden boxes and Fruit Growers box factories in Susanville and Westwood were temporarily closed. In May when the Westwood box factory re-opened, it was only with one shift.

The reduced demand for boxes affected lumber production at Westwood. In 1949 Westwood produced only 87,514,740 board feet, 26 percent of the previous year and no doubt the lowest volume in the history of the mill–whether Red River or Fruit Growers.

The rumor mill went into over drive. In 1949, Paul Simpson, General Manager of Fruit Growers was asked in an interview with the Lassen Advocate about the rumors running rampant that Fruit Growers might closed the Susanville mill and build a new one at Burney. Simpson’s response, “Everything you hear is just rumors,” but he added that Westwood would continue for at least three years.

The rumors persisted. In July 1952, Roy Utke the Production Engineer told the Westwood Rotary Club that Fruit Growers was experimenting with cardboard containers, but it would be at least several years before the cartons came into general use. Utke assured the Westwood business community that operations would continue for some time. Regardless, the rumors continued.

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