GETCHELL STAVE MILL
Marshfield
January 10, 1884: “The steamer now due has the balance of the machinery necessary for the successful operation of Fred Getchell's new stave mill in this place, and in a few days it will be started up and the new machinery given a trial, preparatory to beginning a permanent business in manufacturing and shipping heads and staves.
Everything in and about the mill is new except the boiler, which is the one that was in the steamer Messenger when she was burned at this place a few years ago. This boiler has been furnished with new trimmings, and it is now considered as good as the average new boiler.
The main building of the mill is a substantial two-story structure, 30 by 60 feet in size. At the north end of the lower story is the engine and filing room, 12 by 30 feet, which leaves to the south, for machinery, a room 30 by 48 feet. On the upper floor, 18 by 30 feet, at the north end, has been appropriated for two drying rooms, the floors of which will be thickly covered with steam pipes connecting with the boiler. This leaves a room to the south, 30 by 42 feet, for the planer and the workshop necessary to the establishment.
The boiler room, 16 by 40 feet. Is on the west side of the main building. To guard against danger from fire, the sawdust was dug out and the floor of this room filled in all over with sand from 6 inches to 3 feet in depth. In front of the boiler and under it is a substantial brick hearth, in addition to which there is an ash pan under the boiler.
The power will be derived from a 12 by 24 Corliss-bed engine of 50-horse power, made to order at the Reliance works at San Francisco, and combining the latest improved governor lubricator and oil cups. The fly or hand wheel has a 16-inch face and weighs a ton and a half. The line shaft is of a 2 1/2-inch gauge and 55 feet long, with iron hangers and 14 wrought-iron rim pulleys. This shaft and the pulleys weigh 3000 pounds, yet a man can turn it with one finger of the hand. Over 700 feet of belting is required to run all of the machinery.
About the only imported article we noticed around the premises was an English grindstone of peculiar formation, said to be such as used at all saw factories.
An elevator leads from the lower floor to the doors of the drying room above and everything seems to have been judiciously planned by superintendent J. J. Earle for doing an extensive business on an economical basis.
The machinery of this mill is the best ever brought to the bay and the keg machinery is the very best to be had. The head turner possesses the latest improvements of any on the coast and has a capacity of 5000 to 6000 per day. All of this machinery was made by E. & B. Holmes.
The ties and stringers have been laid for the car track to carry supplies from the saw mill to the stave mill and for carrying the products of the latter mill to the water front, but the iron has not yet been put on, though the track is now in use and in its present condition answers very well for all demands thus far made upon it.
The total cost of the new stave mill will be about $10,000, to justify which outlay Getchell has a large contract covering three years, with the privilege of five.” (The Coast Mail)
Everything in and about the mill is new except the boiler, which is the one that was in the steamer Messenger when she was burned at this place a few years ago. This boiler has been furnished with new trimmings, and it is now considered as good as the average new boiler.
The main building of the mill is a substantial two-story structure, 30 by 60 feet in size. At the north end of the lower story is the engine and filing room, 12 by 30 feet, which leaves to the south, for machinery, a room 30 by 48 feet. On the upper floor, 18 by 30 feet, at the north end, has been appropriated for two drying rooms, the floors of which will be thickly covered with steam pipes connecting with the boiler. This leaves a room to the south, 30 by 42 feet, for the planer and the workshop necessary to the establishment.
The boiler room, 16 by 40 feet. Is on the west side of the main building. To guard against danger from fire, the sawdust was dug out and the floor of this room filled in all over with sand from 6 inches to 3 feet in depth. In front of the boiler and under it is a substantial brick hearth, in addition to which there is an ash pan under the boiler.
The power will be derived from a 12 by 24 Corliss-bed engine of 50-horse power, made to order at the Reliance works at San Francisco, and combining the latest improved governor lubricator and oil cups. The fly or hand wheel has a 16-inch face and weighs a ton and a half. The line shaft is of a 2 1/2-inch gauge and 55 feet long, with iron hangers and 14 wrought-iron rim pulleys. This shaft and the pulleys weigh 3000 pounds, yet a man can turn it with one finger of the hand. Over 700 feet of belting is required to run all of the machinery.
About the only imported article we noticed around the premises was an English grindstone of peculiar formation, said to be such as used at all saw factories.
An elevator leads from the lower floor to the doors of the drying room above and everything seems to have been judiciously planned by superintendent J. J. Earle for doing an extensive business on an economical basis.
The machinery of this mill is the best ever brought to the bay and the keg machinery is the very best to be had. The head turner possesses the latest improvements of any on the coast and has a capacity of 5000 to 6000 per day. All of this machinery was made by E. & B. Holmes.
The ties and stringers have been laid for the car track to carry supplies from the saw mill to the stave mill and for carrying the products of the latter mill to the water front, but the iron has not yet been put on, though the track is now in use and in its present condition answers very well for all demands thus far made upon it.
The total cost of the new stave mill will be about $10,000, to justify which outlay Getchell has a large contract covering three years, with the privilege of five.” (The Coast Mail)
January 24, 1884: “The steamer brought more machinery for the stave mill, which will be started in a few days. Earle expects to ship specimens of its work to San Francisco by next steamer.” (The Coast Mail)
January 31, 1884: “Nelson was the first man to get nipped at the stave mill. Tuesday one of his fingers interviewed one of the saws and came out a little short.” (The Coast Mail)
January 31, 1884: “Last Monday Superintendent Earle set in motion the machinery at Getchell's stave mill in this place, when everything was found to run to a perfection beyond the superintendent's most sanguine expectations. This week has been devoted to testing the different machines and preparing to start the mill with a full crew, which will be done as soon as the superintendent satisfies himself that everything is in perfect order and that no delays will become necessary after the men are put on the pay roll.” (The Coast Mail)
February 14, 1884: “Last week Superintendent Earle left with us the first head manufactured at the stave mill, which is now running full time when the water pipes are not frozen.” (The Coast Mail)
August 7, 1884: “Some important improvements have lately been made and others are in contemplation at Fred Grethell's stave mill in this place. One of the improvements just added to the original plant is a pony saw-mill, from Tatum & Bowen, which is equivalent to anything of the kind now in use.
In addition to such timber as is obtained from Dean & Co's mill, Superintendent Earle now buys logs and saws bolts for himself, in sizes to suit, by which there is a great saving in time and labor in manufacturing them into staves and heads.
The stave mill turns out 800 nail kegs per day, and in this work it consumes about 4500 feet of timber.
The logs best adapted for use at the stave mill are those from 6 to 12 feet in length, which will average about 24 inches in diameter. These are sawed into planks 3 1/2 inches thick, which planks are afterwards cut into suitable widths and lengths for staves. The pieces used for headings are so cut that each piece will make several heads and each head contains but one piece.
The mill is two or three months ahead at San Francisco on the contract it has to fill, and there are now on hand here the staves for 30,000 kegs, half of which are packed and ready for shipment, and the other half will soon be. After the mill has gained some six months on its contract, it will begin the manufacture of staves and headings for outside sale.
A 46 inch saw is now in use at the pony mill, but as the engine furnishes power for a larger saw, it is intended to put in one of 54 inches, and among the new machinery for the manufacture of staves and heads now coming from the east are additional cylinder saws and another head turner. The stave mill will soon be a complete institution of its kind, and J. J. Earle is a man who understands its management to perfection.” (The Coast Mail)
In addition to such timber as is obtained from Dean & Co's mill, Superintendent Earle now buys logs and saws bolts for himself, in sizes to suit, by which there is a great saving in time and labor in manufacturing them into staves and heads.
The stave mill turns out 800 nail kegs per day, and in this work it consumes about 4500 feet of timber.
The logs best adapted for use at the stave mill are those from 6 to 12 feet in length, which will average about 24 inches in diameter. These are sawed into planks 3 1/2 inches thick, which planks are afterwards cut into suitable widths and lengths for staves. The pieces used for headings are so cut that each piece will make several heads and each head contains but one piece.
The mill is two or three months ahead at San Francisco on the contract it has to fill, and there are now on hand here the staves for 30,000 kegs, half of which are packed and ready for shipment, and the other half will soon be. After the mill has gained some six months on its contract, it will begin the manufacture of staves and headings for outside sale.
A 46 inch saw is now in use at the pony mill, but as the engine furnishes power for a larger saw, it is intended to put in one of 54 inches, and among the new machinery for the manufacture of staves and heads now coming from the east are additional cylinder saws and another head turner. The stave mill will soon be a complete institution of its kind, and J. J. Earle is a man who understands its management to perfection.” (The Coast Mail)
October 23, 1884: “Fred Getchell, proprietor of the stave mill at this place, paid a flying visit to the bay last week. He arrived by the Coos Bay and returned by the Arcata. After inspecting, for the first time, his property here he expressed himself as well pleased with the plant and Superintendent Earle's management of it. It has been a success throughout.” (The Coast Mail)
November 27, 1884: “Notice to Loggers. Spruce logs, 12 and 16 feet in length, are wanted at the Marshfield stave mill. J. J. Earle, Superintendent.” (The Coast Mail)
February 5, 1885: “Last Monday Getchell's stave mill at this place started up again, on an order for 4000 boxes for the glass-works at San Francisco and on an unlimited order for nail kegs, the recent rise in the price of nails having revived that trade to an extent to justify the manufacturers in again going ahead with it.” (The Coast Mail)
March 12, 1885: “Articles of incorporation have been filed by the Oakland box and barrel manufacturing company, for the purpose of manufacturing lumber, barrels, kegs, boxes and all other products from wood; for the purchase and sale of timber and lands; for owning, buying, operating and selling vessels, and for general merchandising. Principal place of business, Oakland, Cal. Directors: Fred Getchell, Jas. W. Cox, Geo. W. Webb, Wm. D. Lawton and Francis Blake. Capital stock, $100,000, in 1000 shares of $100 each. This incorporation includes the stave mill at this place.” (The Coast Mail)
May 7, 1885: “The stave mill at this place is a beehive on a big scale. The staves being shipped almost every day, those on the wharf ready to ship and the large number of logs consumed at the mill are positive proof of its prosperity.” (The Coast Mail)
May 28, 1885: “C. W. Olive is A. Cory's successor as filer at Getchell's stave mill at this place.” (The Coast Mail)
September 24, 1885: AD: “The undersigned have for sale, at their stave mill in Marshfield, Fruit Boxes, in shook. We also manufacture to order boxes for canned fruit and salmon.
Oakland Box and Barrel Man'g Co.
E. O. Hall, Superintendent, Marshfield, Or.” (The Coast Mail)
Oakland Box and Barrel Man'g Co.
E. O. Hall, Superintendent, Marshfield, Or.” (The Coast Mail)