Log Slip at National

The University of Washington says this photo is of the “Pacific National Lumber Company mill pond. Mill jack and Asian crew, at National”

The picture, although not the clearest, gives you a lot of detail about logging in the early part of the 20th century.

“The history of National is closely connected with that of Ashford,” says the authors of History of South Eastern Pierce County. “The coming of the railroad in 1905 was the beginning of National Logging Co. #17 and The National Sawmill started that year.

“Camp #17 was operated by the Mineral Lake Logging Company. Pacific National Lumber Company, of which Mr. Demorest was superintendent, built the sawmill. The sawmill and most of the town burned on May 13, 1912 and had to be rebuilt.

The mill had a large payroll, which made National a thriving town for many years. The sawmill was dismantled beteween 1944-1945, and Harbor Plywood Company took over the operation on April 1, 1944 on a much smaller scale.”

Photo courtesy of Debbie and Gary Saint.

Click on image to enlarge.