E. K. WOOD LUMBER COMPANY
Reedsport
August 1, 1941: "Sparks from the burner started as fire that partly destroyed the green chain and some lumber at the E. K. Wood lumber mill here last night. The mill is expected to be in operation again Monday." (The News-Review)
January 3, 1949: "When it became necessary to install a new boiler to replace wornout steam generating units at the E. K. Wood Lumber Company's Reedsport, Oregon, sawmill, a major safety problem in addition to the construction details was dropped in the lap of the chief engineer, William L. Andrews.
His problem was to design and erect a steel frame building approximately 71' x 55' and 31' high to the bottom chords of eight 55 foot steel trusses carrying the roof, and erect a new 750 h.p. three-drum bent tube PSMD boiler, using the major part of the old site.
This meant excavating and driving piling for new foundations, blasting old concrete, wrecking the old building and at the same time supplying steam for the turbine to operate the mill.
It was necessary to fabricate all the steel trusses and conveyors in and under the old building during the process of wrecking and erection.
In comparison with construction problems, the safety problem seemed the most difficult due to the fact that it was necessary that 20 to 35 men work on the building with a large number of them directly underneath the most hazardous work to be done.
Construction foremen were Jack Bevlin, of Coquille, Oregon, who handled excavation and pile driving; Tom Wilson, of Springfield, Oregon, who erected the steel, and Peter Toftdahl, who directed millwrights.
The preliminary work began in February, 1948, with rebuilding of old foundations, and proceeded step by step until the new boiler was installed and a six foot stack 175 feet high was erected. An 80 foot steel conveyor was then prefabricated in sections and hoisted over the old conveyor, and the old conveyor cut down. This work was completed over a weekend to enable the sawmill to operate its regular weekly shift.
Although the job is not as yet entirely completed, Mr. Andrews is justly proud that during a total to date of 30,000 man hours, only one lost time accident occurred and the employee lost but one day from his work, up to Dec.30 when this article was written.
This new construction is now guarded in accordance with the latest developments in safety regulations as required by the Oregon State code and as approved by the Employers' Mutual Safety Inspection, whose engineers, George Bobich and Neil Leachman, assisted with the big job.' (The Eugene Guard) by: Alice Benson
His problem was to design and erect a steel frame building approximately 71' x 55' and 31' high to the bottom chords of eight 55 foot steel trusses carrying the roof, and erect a new 750 h.p. three-drum bent tube PSMD boiler, using the major part of the old site.
This meant excavating and driving piling for new foundations, blasting old concrete, wrecking the old building and at the same time supplying steam for the turbine to operate the mill.
It was necessary to fabricate all the steel trusses and conveyors in and under the old building during the process of wrecking and erection.
In comparison with construction problems, the safety problem seemed the most difficult due to the fact that it was necessary that 20 to 35 men work on the building with a large number of them directly underneath the most hazardous work to be done.
Construction foremen were Jack Bevlin, of Coquille, Oregon, who handled excavation and pile driving; Tom Wilson, of Springfield, Oregon, who erected the steel, and Peter Toftdahl, who directed millwrights.
The preliminary work began in February, 1948, with rebuilding of old foundations, and proceeded step by step until the new boiler was installed and a six foot stack 175 feet high was erected. An 80 foot steel conveyor was then prefabricated in sections and hoisted over the old conveyor, and the old conveyor cut down. This work was completed over a weekend to enable the sawmill to operate its regular weekly shift.
Although the job is not as yet entirely completed, Mr. Andrews is justly proud that during a total to date of 30,000 man hours, only one lost time accident occurred and the employee lost but one day from his work, up to Dec.30 when this article was written.
This new construction is now guarded in accordance with the latest developments in safety regulations as required by the Oregon State code and as approved by the Employers' Mutual Safety Inspection, whose engineers, George Bobich and Neil Leachman, assisted with the big job.' (The Eugene Guard) by: Alice Benson
February 14, 1949: "The E. K. Wood Lumber Co. sawmill in Reedsport closed down Thursday night due to lack of logs. The company has its private equipment working steadily on the Loon Lake road, from the Umpqua Highway to the upper bridge, attempting to get the road in shape so that Douglas County officials will permit the trucking of logs from the winter storage on Loon Lake to the Umpqua River.
It is hoped that the logs may be trucked out to tidewater early in the week and the mill will resume operations as soon as the logs are towed to the mill.
During the past week, several log rafts on Smith River, tied along the banks while awaiting towing to Gardiner and Reedsport for the Gardiner Lumber Co., broke loose when Smith River raised rapidly when warm rains started snow melting. The logs from these rafts were salvaged by towboats without appreciable loss." (The News-Review)
It is hoped that the logs may be trucked out to tidewater early in the week and the mill will resume operations as soon as the logs are towed to the mill.
During the past week, several log rafts on Smith River, tied along the banks while awaiting towing to Gardiner and Reedsport for the Gardiner Lumber Co., broke loose when Smith River raised rapidly when warm rains started snow melting. The logs from these rafts were salvaged by towboats without appreciable loss." (The News-Review)
June 23, 1949: "Extensive repairs and alterations are being made in the boiler room at the E. K. Wood Lumber Company sawmill in Reedsport during the two-week holiday which started Friday night.
In the mill itself, the foundations of the log deck are being renewed, necessitating the removal of considerable equipment. Among the jobs being done in the boiler room is the replacing of the automatic sprinkling system.
Harry Vincent of Oakland, Cal., where the head office of the E. K. Wood Lumber Co. is located, is spending a week in Reedsport superintending some of the repairs being made." (The News-Review)
In the mill itself, the foundations of the log deck are being renewed, necessitating the removal of considerable equipment. Among the jobs being done in the boiler room is the replacing of the automatic sprinkling system.
Harry Vincent of Oakland, Cal., where the head office of the E. K. Wood Lumber Co. is located, is spending a week in Reedsport superintending some of the repairs being made." (The News-Review)
November 5, 1957: "Cascade Plywood Corp. has bought all physical assets of F. K. Wood Lumber Co.---chiefly in the Reedsport area---and may open a green veneer plant at or near Reedsport, it was announced this morning.
The announcement said the new owner did not plan to reopen the E. K. Wood sawmill at Reedsport.
E. K. Wood announced last month that it would liquidate all its assets. The Reedsport sawmill---employing about 140 men---was closed and plans were to dismantle the mill unless a buyer could be found who would be willing to operate it.
That hope died today with Cascade's announcement that it would not operate it." (The World)
The announcement said the new owner did not plan to reopen the E. K. Wood sawmill at Reedsport.
E. K. Wood announced last month that it would liquidate all its assets. The Reedsport sawmill---employing about 140 men---was closed and plans were to dismantle the mill unless a buyer could be found who would be willing to operate it.
That hope died today with Cascade's announcement that it would not operate it." (The World)