LARGER THAN LIFE The Bunyans of Mason County
This tempera mural by Minneapolis artist Richard Haines depicts logging by skid road. Completed in 1940, the mural was a winner of the Treasury
Stella Wenstob | story
Section’s 48 State Post Office Mural
Paul Bunyan serves as the distillation of the legendary lumberjack – quick on his feet dancing on logs rafts, unyielding with his axe and monumentally strong with his ox, Babe, yoked to pull the mighty logs out of the forest. However, the realities of this early method of logging hardly needs a heroic characterization such as Paul Bunyan, since the individuals who made their living in this rough and ready work truly were remarkable.
D. Roosevelt’s New Deal public works
The Pacific Northwest “logger” (apparently lumberjack is more of an Eastern term) with their caulk boots and peaveys are also just as storied as their Eastern cousins. Out here the trees were bigger, the terrain muddier, and the weather wetter. The early economy of Shelton, and surrounding Mason County, was built by the forestry industry. The land for the first sawmill in the County was staked by Colonel Michael T. Simmons and his backers in 1853. Their interest attracted other settlers to the area, such as David Shelton and his family.
Competition part of President Franklin projects. It is located at the Post Office in Shelton, WA.
The operation was powered by the waters of Mill Creek (fed by Isabella Lake). It was conveniently located near the mouth of Hammersley Inlet to allow for easy access to shipping. Although, the mill was able to produce 12,000 board feet a day, the mill did not survive its first winter. The diked mill pond used to control the waterwheel was flooded by the heavy rains of the season and swept the mill off its pilings. Simmons in true pioneer spirit, rebuilt with new investors.
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