Lumber and Sawmills

In the early 1900’s the Siuslaw River Valley was abundant with timber, resulting in a prosperous logging industry for the Florence area. Logs were transported to sawmills on the river, and the boarded lumber shipped on schooners to California for distribution around the country. During and after World War II, timber demand and prices rose sharply resulting in an increase in timber harvesting. With the rapid expansion of production, much of the timberland was harvested, and by the late 1950’s, the logging industry began to decline.

The William Kyle research library maintains files on the following list of lumber and sawmills. The following searchable index is updated on a periodic basis. These files are available for public viewing on Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon to 3 p.m.. Please contact the library at (541) 997-994, ext 1 for further information.