Fletcher Walker, who was the resident manager at Westwood for the Red River Lumber Company, was an interesting individual just like the other Walker siblings.  It should be duly noted, that Westwood was Fletcher’s creation and during the early years operation did not handle criticism very well—especially when it came from family members.

First of all, there would be major learning curve as to what worked in Akeley, Minnesota, and what would not work in Westwood, California. Fletcher initially wanted year-round logging in California, while other companies shut down their operations by November.  It was Fletcher’s contention they would be ahead of their competitors operating winter logging operations—it would take some time for him to yield because his proposition was not only expensive, and not justifiable. However, from the late teens during the early 1920s, he demanded an early start of spring logging beginning by February and that the steam donkey’s necessary for the operations be mobilized. By the end of that decade it was no longer necessary, as motorized tractors replaced the “donkeys” and Fletcher finally succumbed the hard way that his competitors were right.

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