NOON SAWMILL
Benton County - Woods Creek
November 27, 1908: “Philomath.---A Portland firm has purchased 1000 acres of timber on Woods creek, and intends to erect a large sawmill and flume to connect with the C & E railroad, about one mile west of Philomath.” (The Glendale News)
December 25, 1908: “Albany.---A big industry for Benton county is assured by the completion of a deal in this city whereby the Noon Lumber company, of Portland, purchased a big tract of timber near Philomath. The company will establish a big sawmill on the Corvallis & Eastern railroad, four miles west of Philomath, on Woods creek. In this deal the Noon Lumber company has secured between 800 and 900 acres of timber land. Fish & Hodges, of Albany, who have been selling out the old Yaquina Bay wagon road grant, consummated the final transfer here. Work has already begun on arrangements for the installation of the sawmill.” (The Glendale News)
May 19, 1909: "Grading is now progressing rapidly on the new railroad running from the C & E. railroad west of Philomath to the Noon Lumber Company's mills on Woods creek. The distance is between 3 and four miles. The road will be standard grade and connection will be made at the Felger tannery west of Philomath so that cars can run to the mill for loading. When the track is completed the capacity of the mill will be greatly increased, new improved machinery having already been caught and simply awaiting shipment until the completion of the track. The new rails are already on the ground and as fast as the little mounds of earth can be razed the 'spikin' will begin. Thus one by one new and important industries are being added and payrolls started. With all these new links of railroad reaching out on the west and south of here the Southern Pacific will soon be compelled to close the link on the south and run a through train to Portland. The citizens have waited for many years with ear to the ground intently listening for some noise in this direction and the time is now at hand when all should continue to warm the wax in their ears until this city gets results." (Corvallis Daily Gazette)
June 16, 1909: "A. L. Porter, chief engineer for the W. C. Noon Lumber Company, is in the city today. He reports the rapid construction of the railroad which the company is now building from the old Felger mill, two miles west of Philomath to the timber three miles up Wood's creek.
The grading is now completed and the rails are on the ground. Track laying will begin immediately and the road soon ready for operation.
This new road taps a fine body of timber and will connect with the Corvallis & Alsea line, thus giving an outlet for the timber to Corvallis.
It is such enterprises as this that help greatly to develop Benton county and to make Corvallis the receiving and distributing point for the rich resources of this part of the state." (Corvallis Daily Gazette)
The grading is now completed and the rails are on the ground. Track laying will begin immediately and the road soon ready for operation.
This new road taps a fine body of timber and will connect with the Corvallis & Alsea line, thus giving an outlet for the timber to Corvallis.
It is such enterprises as this that help greatly to develop Benton county and to make Corvallis the receiving and distributing point for the rich resources of this part of the state." (Corvallis Daily Gazette)
January 21, 1911: "A tragedy was narrowly averted on Woods Creek early Thursday morning, as a result of the heavy rains and high water. Woods Creek went on a rampage and tore out the dam of the Noon sawmill, precipitating the pent up waters of the millpond into the valley below. The flood, dangerous in itself, was made doubly so by the large amount of drift and sawlogs carried on its crest.
The home of William Kerby lay directly in the path of the flood and was soon enveloped in the raging waters. A heavy sawlog, coming end on with the swift current, struck the house with the force of a projectile and literally plowed its way through the building, reducing it to a shapeless pile of wreckage. The rising water picked up the ruined home and carried it down stream for some distance, where it finally stranded on a pile of drift." (The occupants of the home were later rescued.) (The Morning Oregonian)
The home of William Kerby lay directly in the path of the flood and was soon enveloped in the raging waters. A heavy sawlog, coming end on with the swift current, struck the house with the force of a projectile and literally plowed its way through the building, reducing it to a shapeless pile of wreckage. The rising water picked up the ruined home and carried it down stream for some distance, where it finally stranded on a pile of drift." (The occupants of the home were later rescued.) (The Morning Oregonian)