FOREST PRODUCTS COMPANY
Brownsville
April 13, 1945: "A new sawmill is to be built on the Ray Aspinwall millsite west of here by a group of five men, two of whom are residents of California, one of Portland, and the fourth and fifth being Joe M. Crahane, manager and J. Lee Land, superintendent of the company, who expect to live here. The company is reported to have purchased Mr. Aspinwall's timber holdings also.
The new mill, with a capacity of 35,000 board feet daily, will be known as Forest Products Co." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
The new mill, with a capacity of 35,000 board feet daily, will be known as Forest Products Co." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
April 20, 1945: "The purchase of Aspinwall's sawmill, timber holdings and other city property by a California company is announced here with Joe M. Crahane principal owner. He has been engaged in sawmill and lumber industries in Dunsmuir, Stockton and other California cities. The deal included the mill and timber holdings owned by Ray Aspinwall, the 12 acre site where the mill is located and residence belonging to Fred McHargue, the property with a duplex, two apartments and two cottages owned by John Gardner (formerly the Edna Turner place) and a ten acre tract adjoining the millsite owned by Mrs. Lydia Porter.
Crahane has bought a residence in Salem where he, with his wife and daughter, will reside. He will be in Brownsville much of the time to assist with the operation of the mill. Lee Land is to be mill superintendent, it is reported.
The owners will use the present mill only to cut lumber for a new mill with a capacity of 60,000 board feet. Assisting with the construction of the new mill will be Paul Voight, formerly of Eugene and C. Taylor of Portland. Local men will be employed as far as available in the construction and operation, it is said. The housing shortage will make it necessary for many single men to be hired.
The new mill will be known as the Brownsville Forest Products Company." (Greater Oregon)
Crahane has bought a residence in Salem where he, with his wife and daughter, will reside. He will be in Brownsville much of the time to assist with the operation of the mill. Lee Land is to be mill superintendent, it is reported.
The owners will use the present mill only to cut lumber for a new mill with a capacity of 60,000 board feet. Assisting with the construction of the new mill will be Paul Voight, formerly of Eugene and C. Taylor of Portland. Local men will be employed as far as available in the construction and operation, it is said. The housing shortage will make it necessary for many single men to be hired.
The new mill will be known as the Brownsville Forest Products Company." (Greater Oregon)
July 26, 1945: "Certification of an assumed business name for the Forest Products company of Brownsville has been made with the Linn county clerk by Joe M. Crahane, Salem; Louis Gervais, Beaverton; C. F. McEnerney, Roy A. Weaver and Ralph E. Yoder, Dunsmuir, Cal., and L. Lee Land, Brownsville. Accompanying this certificate was another certifying an agreement of limited partnership between these same parties. The avowed purpose of the organization is to operate a sawmill." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
December 15, 1949: "Purchase of the Sierra lumber company planing mill and all local physical properties by the Forest Products company was announced today by Joe Crahane, general manager of Forest Products, Inc. The consideration was not given.
Crahane said this transaction will combine the two adjoining enterprises into one operation. Both plants are located on the Brownsville-Halsey road near the southern city limits of Brownsville.
The Forest Products company sawmill was established in 1945 by Crahane and others and the Sierra company, whose headquarters office is at Pasadena, Cal., erected its planing mill and accessory facilities on adjacent property also in 1945, going into operation in 1946.
Under agreement the Sierra planer has been processing Forest Products lumber for marketing.
Under the sale agreement the Sierra company will continue to maintain its wholesale office here, marketing Forest Products company as well as the other firms' lumber production.
The sale organization will be headed by Stewart Smith, former principal stockholder in the Brownsville properties of the Sierra company, assisted by Willard Weimer and Jim Clark, who were also with the Sierra company before the sale.
Richard Cornish will be in charge of the Forest Products company office.
The sale is effective as of Jan. 1. The combined operation employs about 50 men. Crahane said that there will be no radical change in policy or personnel." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
Crahane said this transaction will combine the two adjoining enterprises into one operation. Both plants are located on the Brownsville-Halsey road near the southern city limits of Brownsville.
The Forest Products company sawmill was established in 1945 by Crahane and others and the Sierra company, whose headquarters office is at Pasadena, Cal., erected its planing mill and accessory facilities on adjacent property also in 1945, going into operation in 1946.
Under agreement the Sierra planer has been processing Forest Products lumber for marketing.
Under the sale agreement the Sierra company will continue to maintain its wholesale office here, marketing Forest Products company as well as the other firms' lumber production.
The sale organization will be headed by Stewart Smith, former principal stockholder in the Brownsville properties of the Sierra company, assisted by Willard Weimer and Jim Clark, who were also with the Sierra company before the sale.
Richard Cornish will be in charge of the Forest Products company office.
The sale is effective as of Jan. 1. The combined operation employs about 50 men. Crahane said that there will be no radical change in policy or personnel." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
February 3, 1950: "Joe Crahane, manager at Forest Products reported last Thursday that both his sawmill and planing mill are slated to resume operations soon, if the weather permits completion of road building work in the yards." (Greater Oregon)
June 9, 1951: "A Brownsville logger claims injuries he suffered last year entitle him to $52,634.36 damages, specified in a complaint filed today in circuit court here.
The plaintiff, Arthur Beck, alleges that he was severely injured Aug. 18, 1950, when he was struck by a log that rolled off his truck at the Forest Products company sawmill near Brownsville. The log, he asserts, was knocked off the truck by a carelessly manipulated crane boom from which a clam shovel was suspended.
Beck names the Forest Products company, Joe Crahane and other member of the firm as defendants." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
The plaintiff, Arthur Beck, alleges that he was severely injured Aug. 18, 1950, when he was struck by a log that rolled off his truck at the Forest Products company sawmill near Brownsville. The log, he asserts, was knocked off the truck by a carelessly manipulated crane boom from which a clam shovel was suspended.
Beck names the Forest Products company, Joe Crahane and other member of the firm as defendants." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
August 24, 1951: "Joe Crahane, general manager of Forest Products Co., Brownsville, has announced appointment of Vern Christy as plant superintendent at the sawmill plant. When he is familiar with the operation he will take charge of the operation and personnel problems of the three mills and other phases of the plant.
Christy was assistant resident manager of the Mt. Whitney Lbr. Co. plant near Bakersfield, Calif., and has had sawmill experience since 1920. Accompanying him are his wife and two teen-age daughters." (Greater Oregon)
Christy was assistant resident manager of the Mt. Whitney Lbr. Co. plant near Bakersfield, Calif., and has had sawmill experience since 1920. Accompanying him are his wife and two teen-age daughters." (Greater Oregon)
September 13, 1951: "The main mill of the Forest Products company here burned to the ground early today with an estimated loss approaching $200,000.
Eight fire units from six cities including Albany failed to stop the blaze before it razed the main installation of the diversified mill.
Brownsville firemen were delayed in their arrival because of a power failure which silenced the city's general alarm. Fire Chief Ernie Cochell cruised through town blasting his truck's siren, and the city's chief telephone operator, Mrs. Audry Heaton, of the Linn County telephone company, telephoned frantically to raise the necessary crew to get the three fire trucks rolling.
Night watchman E. W. Warnacot reported that he punched his clock in the mill at 12:35 a.m., and went on to the firm's planing mill nearby. Ten minutes later he looked back to discover that the entire east end of the main mill was in flames.
Warnacot notified General Manager Joe Crahane, who turned in the alarm. At about the same time a nearby resident, Glenn Isom, noticed the fire and also called the department.
State Officer H. M. Hanson, Albany, patrolling highway 99, who was ten miles away, spotted the flames and rushed to the mill, arriving there before the fire department.
Fire trucks and crews were called in from Albany, Shedd, Halsey, Harrisburg and Sweet Home to assist.
Firemen were able to save a machine shed, loading dock, cold deck and many lumber piles in the immediate vicinity of the burning mill.
No cause was given by Chief Cochell for the fire, and he said it is impossible to determine just where the blaze first started.
The chief indicated he would call in the state fire marshal and the state arson squad to investigate the cause of the blaze.
Two of the fire fighters were burned, but not seriously, while battling the fire. They were Rex Davis, an employe of the mill, and Shelly Littell, Brownsville volunteer fireman.
Crahane withheld comment on the possibility of rebuilding the mill." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
Eight fire units from six cities including Albany failed to stop the blaze before it razed the main installation of the diversified mill.
Brownsville firemen were delayed in their arrival because of a power failure which silenced the city's general alarm. Fire Chief Ernie Cochell cruised through town blasting his truck's siren, and the city's chief telephone operator, Mrs. Audry Heaton, of the Linn County telephone company, telephoned frantically to raise the necessary crew to get the three fire trucks rolling.
Night watchman E. W. Warnacot reported that he punched his clock in the mill at 12:35 a.m., and went on to the firm's planing mill nearby. Ten minutes later he looked back to discover that the entire east end of the main mill was in flames.
Warnacot notified General Manager Joe Crahane, who turned in the alarm. At about the same time a nearby resident, Glenn Isom, noticed the fire and also called the department.
State Officer H. M. Hanson, Albany, patrolling highway 99, who was ten miles away, spotted the flames and rushed to the mill, arriving there before the fire department.
Fire trucks and crews were called in from Albany, Shedd, Halsey, Harrisburg and Sweet Home to assist.
Firemen were able to save a machine shed, loading dock, cold deck and many lumber piles in the immediate vicinity of the burning mill.
No cause was given by Chief Cochell for the fire, and he said it is impossible to determine just where the blaze first started.
The chief indicated he would call in the state fire marshal and the state arson squad to investigate the cause of the blaze.
Two of the fire fighters were burned, but not seriously, while battling the fire. They were Rex Davis, an employe of the mill, and Shelly Littell, Brownsville volunteer fireman.
Crahane withheld comment on the possibility of rebuilding the mill." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
October 2, 1951: "Joe M. Crahane and others, doing business as Forest Products Co., have filed a suit in circuit court here against V. G. and A. C. Anderson seeking a judgment for a total of $552.33 allegedly due for materials." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
December 13, 1951: "Settlement of a dispute over a drainage ditch this week cleared the way for construction of a new $150,000 sawmill by the Forest Products company here and mill superintendent Joe Crahane said building will start next week.
The new mill will replace the company's main mill that burned to the ground Sept. 13 causing a loss of more than $100,000.
Crahane said a neighboring property holder has agreed not to start action on a suit against Forest Products over a drainage ditch through the mill. He indicated that Forest Products has agreed to cut a ditch capable of handling flood waters of the Calapooia through the neighboring owners' land.
The manager reported that the ditch is already surveyed, but the improvement will not be put in until next summer.
The settlement was negotiated by a Brownsville chamber of commerce committee led by Chet Austin, Charles Fulliger and Bud Davis, Crahane said.
Having a planned capacity of 70,000 board feet a shift, the new $150,000 mill is slated to be in operation by April 15.
When completed the mill will boost the Forest products payroll to 60 men, the same payroll the company had before the fire. Thirty men are now working for the company.
Cleaning up of debris from the fire is already underway, Crahane said." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
The new mill will replace the company's main mill that burned to the ground Sept. 13 causing a loss of more than $100,000.
Crahane said a neighboring property holder has agreed not to start action on a suit against Forest Products over a drainage ditch through the mill. He indicated that Forest Products has agreed to cut a ditch capable of handling flood waters of the Calapooia through the neighboring owners' land.
The manager reported that the ditch is already surveyed, but the improvement will not be put in until next summer.
The settlement was negotiated by a Brownsville chamber of commerce committee led by Chet Austin, Charles Fulliger and Bud Davis, Crahane said.
Having a planned capacity of 70,000 board feet a shift, the new $150,000 mill is slated to be in operation by April 15.
When completed the mill will boost the Forest products payroll to 60 men, the same payroll the company had before the fire. Thirty men are now working for the company.
Cleaning up of debris from the fire is already underway, Crahane said." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
January 11, 1952: "The Forest Products plant being rebuilt after the fire last fall is proceeding at a good rate. The west half of the building frame is up with the roof on it. Sawing is expected to start in about 100 days." (Greater Oregon)
March 7, 1952: "Starting operations Friday is the new $125,000 sawmill erected at Brownsville on the site of the other Forest Products mill which was destroyed by fire last fall at a loss of over $100,000.
Manager Joe Crahane said that Forest Products is inviting representatives from Albany, Lebanon and Sweet Home to view the mill shortly before noon today, followed by a luncheon.
The new mill will have a capacity of 70,000 feet a shift. The firm also operates a smaller mill to cut cottonwood and maple as well as fir, It employes 25 men." (Greater Oregon)
Manager Joe Crahane said that Forest Products is inviting representatives from Albany, Lebanon and Sweet Home to view the mill shortly before noon today, followed by a luncheon.
The new mill will have a capacity of 70,000 feet a shift. The firm also operates a smaller mill to cut cottonwood and maple as well as fir, It employes 25 men." (Greater Oregon)
March 8, 1952: "More than 200 persons were on hand here yesterday to inspect the newly completed $125,000 Forest Products Co. sawmill.
The new mill, constructed in less than 60 working days, has a 75,000-foot capacity per shift and replaces a similar structure destroyed by fire last September.
Joe Crahane, manager of the mill, expressed his thanks to the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce and farmers in the area for making the rebuilding of the mill possible. Because of the path of the overflow of the Calapooia during flood periods there was some doubt for a time whether the plant could be reconstructed. Arrangements permitting the rebuilding of the mill were made by the chamber.
Crahane also expressed hi8s thanks to his employes for their part in the swift rebuilding of the mill." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
The new mill, constructed in less than 60 working days, has a 75,000-foot capacity per shift and replaces a similar structure destroyed by fire last September.
Joe Crahane, manager of the mill, expressed his thanks to the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce and farmers in the area for making the rebuilding of the mill possible. Because of the path of the overflow of the Calapooia during flood periods there was some doubt for a time whether the plant could be reconstructed. Arrangements permitting the rebuilding of the mill were made by the chamber.
Crahane also expressed hi8s thanks to his employes for their part in the swift rebuilding of the mill." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
June 26, 1952: "Sale of the Forest Products company sawmill and all properties by Joe Crahane, manager, and partners, to Welby A. Schneider, Eugene, and T. P. Addision, Lorraine, was announced here today.
The consideration was not given but was admitted to be in excess of $1,000,000. Included in the transaction are the newly reconstructed sawmill, peanut mill, kilns and most of the Forest Products Co. timber holdings." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
The consideration was not given but was admitted to be in excess of $1,000,000. Included in the transaction are the newly reconstructed sawmill, peanut mill, kilns and most of the Forest Products Co. timber holdings." (Albany Democrat-Herald)
Continued to: Timber Products Company of Oregon