A Lumbermon Looks Bock to The Industry Dqys of l9O9

(Editor's Note: Shortly before he died last Spring, Harry W. Cole, then retired, had been asked to draft a short biography for a special Redwood issue. Mr. Cole was well and afiectionately known throughout the industry as manager of the Little River Redwood ,Co. until merger with Hamrnond, in 1929, and served the industry illustriously in the NRA Code meetings. He later took on the representation of the Hill-Davis timber holdings, which merged in 1945 with Arcata Redwood Co. From his retirement in San Rafael just before his death, Mr. Cole made these notes which were not used in the Obituary recently published. This is Harry Cole's story, in his own words:)

Harry W. Cole was born on September 8th, 1872, at North Nation Mills, half way between Ottawa and Montreal, Canada. His father was Thomas Cole, manager of the timber and logging operation there from about 1850.

When the Bronson Company, a large timber company in Ottawa, had an opening for a young man as private secretary to the president, I applied and got the position in 1892. The Hon. E. H. Bronson was a minister in the Ontario Provincial Government, and while Mr. Bronson was away I studied the office routine and was gradually advanced until I was next in line to Mr. Cranell, the secretarytreasurer.

In 1885 Mr. Bronson on a trip to California heard of a large tract of redwood timber in Humboldt County, that was for sale, and bought it in the name of the Little River Redwood Company.

Nothing was done with the property until 1907, when Frank Bronson and Mr. McGillivray were sent out to oDen an operation, but it did not develop at all satisfactory to Ottawa. In the fall of 1908 I came out to make a report. When I got to Humboldt County, Frank Bronson was in the hospital and Mr. McGillivray had gone to British Columbia. I reported back to Ottawa, and io my surprise I was asked to take charge of things. I said I would if things were left in my hands with full operating charge, and regular reports sent back to Ottawa.

Mrs. Cole and I came to San Francisco on January 2nd, 1909. Next day we took the Steamer 'Topeka' for Eureka. Arriving there we took a horse and buggy to 'Bullwinkle,' where the mill was located. The name was later changed to 'Cranell.'

The crew were away for the Christmas holidays, but returned the next day, and I began a cleaning-up of the operation, finding a millwright and a logging boss on the job.

Frank Vandusen got a gang of experienced men in Eureka, and we opened the mill on the lst of May, after very much work. Cragie Sharp was our storekeeper, and he ran the store for twentv vears.

Our sales agents iri San Francisco were \Marren and Lauden, both experienced lumber salesmen. Had wide connections and a good line of customers. Keeping in touch with them I made a trip to the city once a month.

I had many experienced loggers work for me: George Pinkerton, Tom Crowley, Johnson Ross; they all remained with me until they retired or passed away. They all worked very satisfactorily.

Howard A. Libbey was the most successful choice that I made, when in 1916 he became my assistant manager. He is the most outstanding man in the industry today.

We bought the Steamers 'Washington' in 1914 and the 'Tamalpais' in 1919, and in 1923 The Humboldt Northern Railroad from Dolbeer and Carson Lumber Company, which ran from the Little River Mill to Humboldt Bay.

In 1926 the Little River Redwood Company did a great deal of business exporting lumber to various countries in the world, and was very successful until the outbreak of the World War II.

In 1929 the merger of the Hammond Lumber Co. and