KESTERSON LUMBER COMPANY
3 mile south of Klamath Falls
October 31, 1929: “The Kesterson Lumber Company has begun construction of a mill on the east side of Klamath River on the old Whiteline property just south of town that will have an initial capacity of fifty million feet. A box factory may be constructed later.
The Kesterson Company has been in successful operation of a thirty million feet mill at Dorris for several years, the operation of which mill will be continued.
The mill here is being built to handle timber recently acquired in northern Klamath County. These purchases include a tract on Yamsay mountain, one on Sprague River and the 'Modoc Unit' on the west side of the Indian Reservation.
The decision to build in Klamath rather than north nearer the timber was determined partly because of the better labor market for the box factory employees and the fact that it would be unnecessary to build a town to house the employees, but largely because of the better railway shipping facilities offered here and particularly in anticipation of the southerly extension of the Great Northern railroad, of which extension the Kesterson's have been ardent advocates.” (The Klamath Basin Progress)
The Kesterson Company has been in successful operation of a thirty million feet mill at Dorris for several years, the operation of which mill will be continued.
The mill here is being built to handle timber recently acquired in northern Klamath County. These purchases include a tract on Yamsay mountain, one on Sprague River and the 'Modoc Unit' on the west side of the Indian Reservation.
The decision to build in Klamath rather than north nearer the timber was determined partly because of the better labor market for the box factory employees and the fact that it would be unnecessary to build a town to house the employees, but largely because of the better railway shipping facilities offered here and particularly in anticipation of the southerly extension of the Great Northern railroad, of which extension the Kesterson's have been ardent advocates.” (The Klamath Basin Progress)
November 26, 1929: "Construction has started on the Kesterson Lumber company plant on the west bank of the Klamath river about three miles south of the city.
The Kesterson Lumber company is erecting the mill building itself by direct labor and the framework made of giant timbers is already discernable from a distance. The foundations have been poured, fills have been made and now the actual construction of the mill building is proceeding.
Yesterday the James L. Quinn Construction company started work on their contract to build 12 of the most up-to-date dry kilns and numerous buildings at the site.
Excavation crews were busy yesterday on the job of removing dirt for the kilns. Mr. Quinn stated last night that he expected to employ about 150 men daily at the plant in the construction work. Actual construction work will start the end of this week.
Quinn's contract calls for completion of the kilns and a number of other buildings at the plant by March 15.
The Quinn Construction company built the Great Northern depot, the Golden Rule store building, several schools in the city and has a record for fast and efficient work. Mr. Quinn states that he will have his contract completed in time although he admits that 'I'll have to work fast.'" (The Klamath News)
The Kesterson Lumber company is erecting the mill building itself by direct labor and the framework made of giant timbers is already discernable from a distance. The foundations have been poured, fills have been made and now the actual construction of the mill building is proceeding.
Yesterday the James L. Quinn Construction company started work on their contract to build 12 of the most up-to-date dry kilns and numerous buildings at the site.
Excavation crews were busy yesterday on the job of removing dirt for the kilns. Mr. Quinn stated last night that he expected to employ about 150 men daily at the plant in the construction work. Actual construction work will start the end of this week.
Quinn's contract calls for completion of the kilns and a number of other buildings at the plant by March 15.
The Quinn Construction company built the Great Northern depot, the Golden Rule store building, several schools in the city and has a record for fast and efficient work. Mr. Quinn states that he will have his contract completed in time although he admits that 'I'll have to work fast.'" (The Klamath News)
December 15, 1929: "Fred Crichton, engineer with the Hauser Brothers Construction company of Portland, last night announced that a road will be constructed from the Ashland-Klamath Falls highway through property owned by the Northwestern Utilities company property to the Kesterson Lumber company mill.
Mr. Crichton is here and has command a survey of the highway which will be macadamized. Building of the highway will give east access by automobile to the mill site where the mill is rapidly being built in time to operate by May 1, 1930.
Dunn and Baker construction company of this city have been given the contract for this construction of the highway. They recently completed the paving of the stretch of The Dalles-California highway from the south city limits to the junction of the Klamath Falls-Lakeview highway.
Mr. Crichton, who was engineer for Hauser brothers when they built the Great Northern line from Bend to Chemult and who has many friends in this city, will supervise the construction of the highway." (The Klamath News)
Mr. Crichton is here and has command a survey of the highway which will be macadamized. Building of the highway will give east access by automobile to the mill site where the mill is rapidly being built in time to operate by May 1, 1930.
Dunn and Baker construction company of this city have been given the contract for this construction of the highway. They recently completed the paving of the stretch of The Dalles-California highway from the south city limits to the junction of the Klamath Falls-Lakeview highway.
Mr. Crichton, who was engineer for Hauser brothers when they built the Great Northern line from Bend to Chemult and who has many friends in this city, will supervise the construction of the highway." (The Klamath News)
December 20, 1929: "Despite the past two weeks of rainy weather, the construction of the new Kesterson mill, which was begun on October 26, is progressing rapidly under Superintendent Marx of Portland.
According to reliable information from unofficial sources, the saw mill is 75 per cent complete, the green chain 75 per cent complete, and the dry kilns, of which there are twelve, well under way. The machine shop is 100 per cent complete.
The first car load of machinery for the new mill has arrived. The Great Northern railroad has moved one mile of the main line 800 feet feet west, for the construction of the plant." (The Klamath News)
According to reliable information from unofficial sources, the saw mill is 75 per cent complete, the green chain 75 per cent complete, and the dry kilns, of which there are twelve, well under way. The machine shop is 100 per cent complete.
The first car load of machinery for the new mill has arrived. The Great Northern railroad has moved one mile of the main line 800 feet feet west, for the construction of the plant." (The Klamath News)
April 30, 1930: "Three cars of paint have been sold to the Kesterson company by the Big Basin Lumber company of this city, for the painting of the huge new Kesterson saw mill, which will be in operation some time after the first of May.
The paint is Pabco Multi-Service, gray in color, and is one of the largest contracts ever sold in this vicinity." (The Klamath News)
The paint is Pabco Multi-Service, gray in color, and is one of the largest contracts ever sold in this vicinity." (The Klamath News)
May 10, 1930: "The Kesterson Lumber company's new 200,000 foot capacity mill, three miles south of the city on the Klamath river, was in full capacity yesterday. May 1 the steam was turned on and the gears which will run for years started rolling. Gradually the mill was put into operation, until on Thursday 95,000 board feet were cut in a 12-hour shift.
Only one shift has been in operation thus far, but the second shift will be added next Monday night and the entire plant will be tuned up for 24 hours run each day under the well known efficiency that the Kestersons always adopt.
The machine shop is completed and in operation. Dry kilns will go into operation on Tuesday of next week, and the large planing mill will in a few days be an active unit of the plant.
Kesterson's logging camp, located in the timber unit purchased from the Long-Bell company, is putting out 250,000 feet of logs per day, which serve to supply the Kesterson plant at Klamath.
Logging operations are under the direction of J. P. Baker who is working at the present time 150 men.
The Kesterson Lumber company is composed of G. H. Kesterson, president; Irving E. Kesterson, vice-president; A. P. Heup, secretary; W. L. Kesterson, treasurer. All offices of the company are experienced and successful lumber operators." (The Klamath News)
Only one shift has been in operation thus far, but the second shift will be added next Monday night and the entire plant will be tuned up for 24 hours run each day under the well known efficiency that the Kestersons always adopt.
The machine shop is completed and in operation. Dry kilns will go into operation on Tuesday of next week, and the large planing mill will in a few days be an active unit of the plant.
Kesterson's logging camp, located in the timber unit purchased from the Long-Bell company, is putting out 250,000 feet of logs per day, which serve to supply the Kesterson plant at Klamath.
Logging operations are under the direction of J. P. Baker who is working at the present time 150 men.
The Kesterson Lumber company is composed of G. H. Kesterson, president; Irving E. Kesterson, vice-president; A. P. Heup, secretary; W. L. Kesterson, treasurer. All offices of the company are experienced and successful lumber operators." (The Klamath News)
May 14, 1930: "William Barkey Broom, wanted in Lane county on a warrant charging possession of a still; in Marion county on a charge of possession of a still, and in Multnomah county where he allegedly deserted his wife and children, was arrested yesterday by Officers Louis Mueller and Colby at Kesterson's logging camp.
Broom was working at the camp under the name of William Brown. The camp is 40 miles north of Chiloquin on Yamsay mountain." (The Klamath News)
Broom was working at the camp under the name of William Brown. The camp is 40 miles north of Chiloquin on Yamsay mountain." (The Klamath News)
September 26, 1930: "W. O. Hardberger, age 44, employe of the Kesterson Lumber company, died about 9:30 last night from shock and injuries resulting when he was injured while working in the mill yards Thursday morning.
The man was working at the site where logs are being unloaded from the cars when a heavy cable broke and whipped against his feet, injuring the right foot so badly that amputation was necessary, and badly fracturing the left foot. He was rushed to the Hillside hospital for treatment, where he died last night." (The Klamath News)
The man was working at the site where logs are being unloaded from the cars when a heavy cable broke and whipped against his feet, injuring the right foot so badly that amputation was necessary, and badly fracturing the left foot. He was rushed to the Hillside hospital for treatment, where he died last night." (The Klamath News)
January 26, 1939: “Earl Potter, who has been working for Kesterson Lumber Company at Beatty, was in town visiting the fore part of the week.” (The Chiloquin Review)
April 13, 1939: “A crew of men started Monday morning falling snags and piling brush for the Kesterson Logging Co. on the land they logged last year.” (The Chiloquin Review) [Beatty]
September 26, 1939: “A report of an accident to Earl Nedever at the Kesterson Lumber Company mill in Klamath Falls reached us shortly before press time. It was said that he was working in the lath mill on the cut-off saw and sheared off a portion of his hand. No details were available however.” (The Chiloquin Review)
November 21, 1940: “Walter Thompson of Klamath Falls former shipping clerk at Pine Ridge, was injured last week when run over by a lumber carrier while working at the Kesterson lumber mill. Mr. Thompson's left leg and foot were badly crushed.” (The Chiloquin Review)
November 28, 1940: “Walter Thompson, who will be remembered inn this vicinity as the shipping clerk of the Forest Lumber company at Pine Ridge, who recently had the misfortune to be run over by a Gerlinger lumber carrier while working at the Kesterson Lumber company in Klamath Falls, is not progressing as satisfactorily as had been hoped and it is feared amputation of the leg at the ankle may be necessary.” (The Chiloquin Review)
December 12, 1940: “Walter Thompson, who recently underwent an amputation of the left leg just below the knee, is reported to be resting easily at the Hillside hospital in Klamath Falls.” (The Chiloquin Review)
January 25, 1943: "Kesterson Lumber corporation will start its Klamath Falls mill on February 15, it was announced Monday by Irving Kesterson, general manager.
The Kesterson mill has been down since December 1 for repairs and piling up logs for spring production. The box factory has been running during the period of mill shutdown,
The company has several million feet of logs in the pond on which it will start it cut February 15. Logging operations have continued insofar as weather would permit.
The day shift at the sawmill will begin work at 7:30 a. m., February 15, according to a bulletin posted at the mill Monday. The night shift will begin at 5:30 p.m. on February 22. Work for the starting week will be equally divided between the men on both shifts.
The bulletin stated lumber production will begin on a 40-hour week schedule.
In his bulletin, Kesterson said that 'our goal must be production for victory. Our individual aim must be to work and produce without a single stoppage caused by lack of cooperation between the men and the management.
'We invite sincere cooperation of all men and women in this organization.
Last week the management of the company discussed re-opening plans with the CIO union which represents the Kesterson workers." (Herald and News)
The Kesterson mill has been down since December 1 for repairs and piling up logs for spring production. The box factory has been running during the period of mill shutdown,
The company has several million feet of logs in the pond on which it will start it cut February 15. Logging operations have continued insofar as weather would permit.
The day shift at the sawmill will begin work at 7:30 a. m., February 15, according to a bulletin posted at the mill Monday. The night shift will begin at 5:30 p.m. on February 22. Work for the starting week will be equally divided between the men on both shifts.
The bulletin stated lumber production will begin on a 40-hour week schedule.
In his bulletin, Kesterson said that 'our goal must be production for victory. Our individual aim must be to work and produce without a single stoppage caused by lack of cooperation between the men and the management.
'We invite sincere cooperation of all men and women in this organization.
Last week the management of the company discussed re-opening plans with the CIO union which represents the Kesterson workers." (Herald and News)
January 27, 1943: "Irving E. Kesterson, general manager of Kesterson Lumber corporation, announced today that the company will resume operations at its plant on Cumberland road, weather conditions permitting, on February 8 instead of February 15 as previously scheduled.
The decision of the company to move forward the starting date one week, Kesterson said, resulted from a desire to cooperate with war production board officials, to meet lumber needs in the war program.
Operations will begin on a one-shift basis at 7:30 a. m. February 8, Kesterson stated, with another shift to be added in the near future." (Herald and News)
The decision of the company to move forward the starting date one week, Kesterson said, resulted from a desire to cooperate with war production board officials, to meet lumber needs in the war program.
Operations will begin on a one-shift basis at 7:30 a. m. February 8, Kesterson stated, with another shift to be added in the near future." (Herald and News)
April 24, 1943: "A timber employe suffered serious injuries in an accident which occurred Friday.
A. W. Storte, 49, employed in the box factory at Kesterson's, suffered back hurts when a log rolled against him. He was admitted to the Klamath Valley hospital." (Herald and News)
A. W. Storte, 49, employed in the box factory at Kesterson's, suffered back hurts when a log rolled against him. He was admitted to the Klamath Valley hospital." (Herald and News)