BRIDAL VEIL LUMBERING COMPANY
Bridal Veil
July 29, 1888: "The Bridal Veil company has a sawmill with a capacity for cutting 50,000 feet of lumber in a day and has a body of timber as can be found anywhere in the world. The flume company, which is distinct from the sawmill company, has extended a flume to the railroad and lumber can be sent down from the sawmill in less than three minutes. A very good road runs to the mill. The flume will be extended by the flume company into the mountains farther back, so that the timber from remote sections can be gotten out." (Morning Oregonian)
September 13, 1902: "At 3 o'clock this morning fire destroyed the sawmill of the Bridal Veil Lumbering Company and the whole town of Palmer, situated two miles south of Bridal Veil. The fire originated along the right of way of the O. R. & N. on Monday last, and soon threatened the property of the lumbering company. Since noon on Monday the company has fought it with every man in their employ. The fire got beyond control, as a terrific east wind was blowing, but by heroic work in cutting and firing back into the brush and timber they were able to save the planing mills, dwellings and lumber at Bridal Veil Station. In spite of all efforts, the fire worked up the mountain side, and at midnight Thursday the sawmill caught. Both the mill and the town of Palmer had a perfect system of water works, but on account of the high wind the water seemed to have no effect on the flames. Within one hour after the fire struck the sawmill the once prosperous town was completely wiped out.
Palmer was situated in a canyon, and the consequent draft created helped the fire. Of the 250 people employed, there is none known to have perished. Most of the people escaped by the country road to Troutdale and Gresham. The engineers succeeded in saving two Baldwin locomotives by running them out of the roundhouse to a place of safety, but in doing so were badly burned. Of the people, a majority are more or less burned, and none saved any effects except what he carried on his back. It is not yet known what the extent of the damage to the logging road or the other property of the lumbering company will be, but the officers estimate their loss at $50,000, less $12,000 insurance. Loss to private individuals is $10,000, with no insurance." (Morning Oregonian)
Palmer was situated in a canyon, and the consequent draft created helped the fire. Of the 250 people employed, there is none known to have perished. Most of the people escaped by the country road to Troutdale and Gresham. The engineers succeeded in saving two Baldwin locomotives by running them out of the roundhouse to a place of safety, but in doing so were badly burned. Of the people, a majority are more or less burned, and none saved any effects except what he carried on his back. It is not yet known what the extent of the damage to the logging road or the other property of the lumbering company will be, but the officers estimate their loss at $50,000, less $12,000 insurance. Loss to private individuals is $10,000, with no insurance." (Morning Oregonian)
January 19, 1903: "The new town of Palmer is growing. Seven new houses of modern style are nearly completed, the greater number containing seven rooms. By spring it is contemplated there will be from 60 to 70 houses built for the accommodation of the mill employes; also business houses will be erected, probably including a mercantile establishment. The mill is busy sawing lumber for the buildings, but is filling outside orders too. Work will probably begin in April in the construction of the new mill." (Clackamas County Record)
March 26, 1903: "Miss Anna Yoder left last Friday for Palmer, Or., to be assistant cook in the Bridal Veil Lumbering Co.'s boarding house at that place. Is it the wages they get, or the good looking men the company employs that draws the girls to that particular camp? Miss Yoder is the fourth one to go from this neighborhood to work there." (Clackamas County Record)
July 30, 1903: "Miss Mabel Schwatz, who is cooking in one of the Bridal Veil Lumbering Co's. boarding houses, is home on a week's vacation. Meanwhile her sister, Nan, has taken her place at the camp." (Clackamas County Record)