Cowlitz County was once "The Timber Capital of the World". The camps at Oak Point, Ostrander and Ryderwood employed hundreds of men, and the city of Longview was a direct result of the success of the Long-Bell Company. I hope to use this page to document known logging camps, saw mills, and other logging-related industries in Cowlitz Co., and provide links to resources where researchers can learn more. Unfortunately, I do not have much more information than what is presented here or elsewhere on the website. If you have information that may help others, please contact me.

Resources

Listing of companies

Location Company
Ariel
  • Lewis River Tie Company (see Judy Card's history of the Lewis River area.)

    		•
    Castle Rock
  • George Appleman Saw Mill (listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

  • John Robin and Sons Shingle Mill (built 1883; see Castle Rock Area; listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

  • Smith & Brown Shingle Mill (built by L. T. Smith and Oliver J. Brown; listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

  • Sturn Bros Shingle Mill (built by Charles and John Sturn; listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

  • William A. Wright Shingle Mill (listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

    		•
    Catlin
  • James Fidler Saw Mill (listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

    		•
    Eufaula
  • B. F. Brock Logging Company (operated from 1893-1902; see the "The Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History". A photo of the camp, from 1892, was published in "The Mountainous West: Explorations in Historical Geography".)

  • Eastern & Western Lumber Company (operated from 18902-1926; bought out the Eufaula Logging Company; see the "The Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History".)

  • The Eufaula Logging Company (operated from 1915-1926; see the University of Washington's Digital Collections for photos and history.)

    		•
    Kalama
  • Columbia Lumber Company (was operating in 1913.)

  • Spencer Creek Lumber Company (was operating in 1913.)

    		•
    Kelso
  • Clark Creek Logging Company (was operating in 1909-1912; see also obituary of C. A. "Fred" Taylor, operator of the company.)

  • Coweeman Shingle Co. (listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

  • Cowlitz Valley Lumber Company (was operating in 1913.)

  • Inman and Polson Logging Company (was operating in 1909-1912.)

  • Knapp & Knapp Saw Mill (built by Peter J. and George Knapp; listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

  • McLane Lumber and Shingle Mill (Owned by E. J. McLane; reported destroyed in a fire in 1921)

  • Metcalf & Wade Shingle Mill (built by Ralph Metcalf and L. W. Wade; listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory; mentioned in article on the catastrophic Cowlitz River flood of 1910.)

    		•
    Lexington
  • S. J. Beck Logging Company (mentioned in article on the catastrophic Cowlitz River flood of 1910.)

  • Van Blancom & Ryser Mill (listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

    		•
    Longview
  • Long-Bell Lumber Company (history provided by Robert D. West and HistoryLink.org.)

  • Weyerhaeuser Timber Company (see see University of Washington's Digital Collections for history and 1942 mess-hall photo and camp photo.)

    		•
    Oak Point
  • Benson Logging & Lumbering Co. (saw mill; listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

  • Nequally Lumber Company (established by Harry Syverson, Charles O. Hill and C. C. Woodcock in 1914)

  • Oak Point Piling and Lumber Company (operated by Capt. Charles O. Hill; was operating in 1909-1912.)

  • Wisconsin Logging and Timber Company (ca. 1908-1924; see University of Washington's Digital Collections for history and photos. Loreen Well's father was a logger at the Wisconsin Logging camp.)

    		•
    Ostrander
  • Byerly, Collins and Byerly (shingle mill; listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

  • Ostrander Shingle Mill Co. (listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

  • Ostrander Railway & Lumber Company (established 1896 by E. S. Collns; the Collins Company website has more information. See also University of Washington's Digital Collections photos.)

    		•
    Ryderwood
  • Long-Bell Lumber Company (established in 1923)

    		•
    Silver Lake
  • Silver Lake Railway & Lumber Company (established 1903 by E. S. Collns; the Collins Company website has more information.)

    		•
    Stella
  • A. S. Douglas (saw mill; listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

  • Hammond Lumber Company (was operating in 1909-1912.)

  • Snider & Norby (shingle mill; listed in 1901-1902 Gazetteer and Business Directory)

  • Wisconsin Logging and Timber Company (ca. 1908-1924; see University of Washington's Digital Collections for history and photos.)

    		•
    Woodland
  • North Fork Logging Company (established 1906; see Judy Card's history of the Lewis River area.)

    		•