WINCHESTER BAY LUMBER COMPANY
Douglas County - Reedsport
February 10, 1920: "It is reported that the Winchester Bay Lumber company are contemplating the building of a railroad from the Schofield river to their body of timber on the Winchester bay divide, where they will have large logging camps. If this plan matures it will be the first logging railway to be built by Reedsport sawmill industries, and will open up a large section of timber lands. It has been given out that the mill of the company will be largely increased in sawing capacity the coming summer, which will mean a much larger force of men at the mill and in the logging camps. The Winchester Bay Lumber company's mill here is the largest mill now in Douglas county, and when completed to its full capacity will be over twice as large as any other mill in the county, and to keep it running steadily it will mean many more logging camps and logging roads to supply the mill with logs, all of which will go to make up a much larger payroll for this town." (Roseburg Review)
April 6, 1920: "R. J. Hubbard and John Kiernan of Portland today bought from Adelsperger & Conrad at Marshfield a tract of timber located south of the Umpqua river near Reedsport and containing 170,000,000 feet of timber. The price is said to be in the neighborhood of $400,000.
Hubbard and Kiernan are chief owners in the Winchester Bay Lumber company mill at Reedsport and the timber purchased will be logged to supply this mill. The tract is a part of the original holdings of the Gardiner Mill company, which were purchased by Adelsperger & Conrad and since sold in several different tracts to lumber manufacturers of the lower Umpqua river." (Morning Oregonian)
Hubbard and Kiernan are chief owners in the Winchester Bay Lumber company mill at Reedsport and the timber purchased will be logged to supply this mill. The tract is a part of the original holdings of the Gardiner Mill company, which were purchased by Adelsperger & Conrad and since sold in several different tracts to lumber manufacturers of the lower Umpqua river." (Morning Oregonian)
April 18, 1920: "The Winchester Bay Lumber company is building a logging railroad several miles in length to extend from the mill to new timber holdings. R. J. Hubbard and John Kiernan of Portland, chief owners in the mill, recently bought 170,000,000 feet of timber from Adelsperger & Conrad of Marshfield and the railroad will reach this tract. The timber was a part of the holding of the Gardiner Mill Company which Adelsperger & Conrad bought last year, and nearly all of which has been sold to Reedsport lumbermen. Every mill in Reedsport now owns sufficient timber to assure operations for five years at least." (The Oregon Daily Journal)
January 16, 1921: "The mill of the Winchester Bay Lumber company, which has been closed for some time, opened again Friday. About 65 men will be employed in the mill. The company will also operate its logging camp.
With the opening of this mill all of the industrial plants at Reedsport are now running, and offers work to more men than ever before." (The Evening Herald)
With the opening of this mill all of the industrial plants at Reedsport are now running, and offers work to more men than ever before." (The Evening Herald)
May 10, 1923: "The new lath mill of the Winchester Bay Lumber company of Reedsport, has begun operations." (Halsey Enterprise)
May 24, 1923: “J. W. Whitney, a former resident of Drain, was killed Saturday while working as an edgerman at the Winchester Bay Lumber company. A plank flew and hit him, breaking his neck and arm. Surviving are his widow of Gardiner, his Father, Ed Whitney, of Florence, and mother of Oakland.” (The Drain Enterprise)
May 29, 1924: “Winchester Bay Lumber Co. mill at Reedsport is closed for repair and addition of new machinery, such as a Johnson carriage and a Simonsen log turner.” (The Siuslaw News)
July 3, 1924: “Mr. Ross, foreman of the Winchester Bay Lumber Co.'s logging camp here, and family have moved back to the camp. It is expected work will be taken up again after the Fourth.” (The Siuslaw News)
July 3, 1924: “Marshfield---The Winchester Bay Lumber company is making extensive improvements in its mill with the object of enlarging its output. Log and deck machinery are the principal installations, and a Johnson shaper attachment is being put in to save lumber.” (The Siuslaw News)
August 23, 1927: "Reedsport---Winchester Bay mill ships trainload, 600,000 feet, spruce to Australia." (The Ashland Register)
May 24, 1941: "Gay Cramer, 53, an employe of the Winchester Bay Lumber company sawmill in Reedsport, was killed Friday shortly after the mill was started for the day. Mr. Cramer was walking along a high load of lumber that was being towed to the dry kiln when the chain used for towing fouled and jerked the load to such an extent that the top of the load toppled over and crushed him to the dock. When other workmen removed the lumber, he was still alive and was placed in an ambulance to be taken to the hospital in North Bend, but died before reaching the hospital.
When his death was announced, the mill was closed for the day and the flag at the office put at half-mast. Mr. Cramer is survived by his widow, and four sons, Leland, Everett, Fred and Cecil." (The World)
When his death was announced, the mill was closed for the day and the flag at the office put at half-mast. Mr. Cramer is survived by his widow, and four sons, Leland, Everett, Fred and Cecil." (The World)