The Story of Logging in the Redwood Country

The story of logging on the North Coast is exhibited in brief at Fort Humboldt State Historic Park in Eureka (off south Broadway, opposite Bayshore Mall). Artifacts representative of the logging industry in its heyday are preserved and displayed there to remind us of that important California industry.

Logging, whether of fir, spruce, redwood or any of the other species of trees used for commercial lumber started with crude, simple tools. Oxen, horses and mules were used to drag the fallen trees to the sawmills before logging railroads were established. In the early days, finished lumber was shipped by coastal schooners to help build San Francisco or loaded onto ocean-going ships to be used throughout the world. The completion of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad in 1914 also helped transport lumber products to markets. Today, California's northcoast timber products are shipped throughout the United States and the world.

The Timber Heritage Museum Association (formerly Northern Counties Logging Interpretive Association) was incorporated in May of 1977 to assist the State of California's Department of Parks and Recreation in the interpretation of logging history at its logging display at Fort Humboldt State Historic Park and eventually create a larger, permanent logging and timber heritage museum. The following are examples of some of the Association's first restoration projects.

Restoration of a small "Dolbeer" type steam donkey (left) to operating condition was one of the first projects by the Association. The donkey was donated by the family of Nicodemus "Nick" Lucchesi in 1964, and is affectionately called "Lucy" by some. The state provided the materials, and Association members provided the labor to restore the donkey. Work was completed and the donkey steamed up in the fall of 1975, before the Association was actually incorporated. The boiler was re-tubed in 1977.

Bear Harbor Lumber Co. Gypsy Locomotive #1 (right) was restored next. This locomotive was donated to the State by the Anderson family in 1962, and sat out at Fort Humboldt with many parts missing until 1972 when a two-stall display shelter was completed by the State to house the Gypsy and Falk locomotives. Work parties were held each Wednesday in the "engine house" from 5:30 p.m. until everybody was too tired to do any more. Work was completed and the boiler tested and steamed up in June 1979. Taking the Gypsy to the 1981 opening of the California State Railroad Museum required certain modifications to the boiler. These modifications were completed with the help of Eureka Boiler Works just in time to load the locomotive on a National Guard truck for transportation to Sacramento. The Gypsy's "Bull Gear" drew considerable attention at "Railfair '81," as did the large redwood log displayed on a disconnect truck log car.

Elk River Mill & Lumber Co. Locomotive #1 "Falk" (left) was a much more extensive restoration project by the Association. The locomotive's boiler had been abused by unknown person(s) and it was necessary to replace it before the locomotive could be operated safely. This locomotive, weighing only about 10 tons, is believed to have been built by Marshutz & Cantrell (National Iron Works) in about 1882 in San Francisco. Due to its dilapidated condition, it was completely disassembled by Association members. The frame was straightened, (it was probably bent from being run into by several "runaway" cars) and a new cab and boiler were installed. Volunteers furnished much of the labor for this renovation, but funding came from State Parks (about $19,000), grants and donations from friends, school children, local citizens and the volunteers. The Falk's first outing was a trip to the 1986 World Fair, EXPO '86, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Some of the restored artifacts are operated at Fort Humboldt monthly, April to September, and have traveled widely to be demonstrated at logging, railroad, or other events in three western states and Canada. THA has a truck trailer fitted with rails, and a ramp to transport this historic equipment with the cooperation of California State Parks.

In addition to the work with Fort Humboldt State Historic Park, the Timber Heritage Association has been acquiring and preserving artifacts for its primary vision, to create a working, living history museum of logging and timber history. Our collection includes the following: Bear Harbor Lumber Co. No. 2 (2-4-2T, Baldwin, 1898), Arcata and Mad River No. 7 (2-truck Shay, Lima, 1918), Hammond Lumber Co. No. 15 (2-8-2, Baldwin, 1916), Pacific Lumber Co. No. 29 (2-6-2, Baldwin, 1910), Hammond Lumber Co. No. 33 (3-truck Shay, Lima, 1922), Pacific Lumber Co. No. 37 (2-8-2 Tank, ALCO, 1924), Mutual Plywood Corp. No. 54 (a 1927 2-truck Heisler converted to a diesel), Arcata & Mad River Railroad No. 101 (44-ton diesel, General Electric, 1950), 22 log or lumber cars, a Humboldt Northern caboose, an operating 1923 Clyde Track Layer, various maintenance of way cars, speeders and trailers, a complete steam-powered sawmill, numerous donkeys, yarders, slackliners, log arches, tractors, large machine tools, drag saws and much more. These artifacts are stored at a leased site near Blue Lake, California. Currently THA is engaged in a major campaign to create this long awaited museum of timber heritage.