Thor & Helen Nyberg
Thor had many early day memories. What he remembered most is how quiet the forest was, even when the lumberjacks worked. There were no machines, no chainsaw whining, no bulldozers groaning, no logging rucks winding their way up and down the crooked switchback roads. Instead, there was the gentle voices of the "skinners" calmly coaxing their log burdened horses to tun right or left with a "haw" or "gee", the thump of distant axes, the swish of the nearby crosscut saw and the warning of "timberrrr".
When Thor first came to Headquarters,in 1921, they parked the model-T in Pierce; because the roads were muddier than the dickens and hiked into town. the next day he was hired as scaler.
He said there were 5 logging camps within walking distance of each other and they were called "rag camps" because the men lived in tents. There were six double bunks to a tent. Showers were available, but weren't used very often. But, you could lay fifty bucks along side your bunk and no one would bother it.
Helen taught the primary grades at the the school for 7 years.--"Colleen Ross"
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Bessie (Smith) Stenzel
Our Family moved to Headquarters in early 1952 from Town site 4. It was late February and I had to finish that year of school in Pierce. Every day I went down to the front of the store and got on the bus with the big kids. At that time only the high school went to Pierce and the other grades went to school in Headquarters.
The next fall I started my first year in a three grade classroom at Headquarters. Gladys Clark was my teacher for the next three years. She was always so well groomed and smelled so good. She was such a nice lady and good with the kids.
Winters in town were lots of fun for us. The snow would get so deep where it slid off the roof, we had no trouble just walking right up on the house. Every year we would drag out the sleds and sleigh ride 'till we had to go home. The first few years we lived there, the tow rope was still running on what was called "The ski hill". The hill was busy most of the days the tow was running.
All the years we lived in Headquarters we lived in town site 1. The first few years we were in house number 28. One summer,when all the kids were still taking naps, Maude Vaughn came to give us "shots". I got mine first because I was awake. But he boys were all asleep in a line on the big bed. Maude walked in and have them shots and they slept right through the event. Maude wasn't known for being the most gentle shot giver around, but I did like her and she was always there when you needed her.
My best friend, when we first moved to town, was Linda Baker. We had some wonderful times together. Her father, Clarence, built her a playhouse on the side of his jeep garage. We even got to sleep in it from time to time.
Mary Beyers and her friend, Nancy Platt (from Pierce) used to make paper dolls fro us. They also taught us how to play "Canasta".
Summers were wonderful. Nice warm days and cool nights made the winters easier to put up with. We had the whole area to play in and took full advantage of it.
There was an unwritten law that when the 9 o'clock siren blew, all kids were to be home. In our house, that meant time to go to bed.
Dad (Stewart SMith) worked in the warehouse and I thought it was a wonderful place to see. It was always so cool in the summer and as a child it was such a big place.
When cable TV came in, most families in town stated watching. Our first TV was a big green thing that gave us hours of entertainment. We got three channels and that was the major networks. About the same time, telephones came to Headquarters. Every household that got one was on a party line with five or ten other families.
Some of the girls took dance classes from Ruby Welch or piano lessons from Joann Hansen. The boys had scouts and baseball. a number of us took 4-H and that meant going over the hill to Dogpatch. Helen Smith and Mamie Jones were both leaders. It was exciting getting ready for the Clearwater County Fair and you always wondered if you would be ready. Somehow everything came together.
When the company built the swimming pool, I was in heaven. It was a wonderful place to keep cool. We weren't the only one to use it, sometimes car loads of kids from Pierce would come to swim there too.
When I think of "Headquarters" it will be the place it was in the '50's and '60's.
The next fall I started my first year in a three grade classroom at Headquarters. Gladys Clark was my teacher for the next three years. She was always so well groomed and smelled so good. She was such a nice lady and good with the kids.
Winters in town were lots of fun for us. The snow would get so deep where it slid off the roof, we had no trouble just walking right up on the house. Every year we would drag out the sleds and sleigh ride 'till we had to go home. The first few years we lived there, the tow rope was still running on what was called "The ski hill". The hill was busy most of the days the tow was running.
All the years we lived in Headquarters we lived in town site 1. The first few years we were in house number 28. One summer,when all the kids were still taking naps, Maude Vaughn came to give us "shots". I got mine first because I was awake. But he boys were all asleep in a line on the big bed. Maude walked in and have them shots and they slept right through the event. Maude wasn't known for being the most gentle shot giver around, but I did like her and she was always there when you needed her.
My best friend, when we first moved to town, was Linda Baker. We had some wonderful times together. Her father, Clarence, built her a playhouse on the side of his jeep garage. We even got to sleep in it from time to time.
Mary Beyers and her friend, Nancy Platt (from Pierce) used to make paper dolls fro us. They also taught us how to play "Canasta".
Summers were wonderful. Nice warm days and cool nights made the winters easier to put up with. We had the whole area to play in and took full advantage of it.
There was an unwritten law that when the 9 o'clock siren blew, all kids were to be home. In our house, that meant time to go to bed.
Dad (Stewart SMith) worked in the warehouse and I thought it was a wonderful place to see. It was always so cool in the summer and as a child it was such a big place.
When cable TV came in, most families in town stated watching. Our first TV was a big green thing that gave us hours of entertainment. We got three channels and that was the major networks. About the same time, telephones came to Headquarters. Every household that got one was on a party line with five or ten other families.
Some of the girls took dance classes from Ruby Welch or piano lessons from Joann Hansen. The boys had scouts and baseball. a number of us took 4-H and that meant going over the hill to Dogpatch. Helen Smith and Mamie Jones were both leaders. It was exciting getting ready for the Clearwater County Fair and you always wondered if you would be ready. Somehow everything came together.
When the company built the swimming pool, I was in heaven. It was a wonderful place to keep cool. We weren't the only one to use it, sometimes car loads of kids from Pierce would come to swim there too.
When I think of "Headquarters" it will be the place it was in the '50's and '60's.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Emma Taylor
"Snow and more snow! Willis J (Bill) Taylor and I were married in 1946 and in 1948 we came to live in Headquarters. When my son, Gary and I rode into town on the bus, coming down the hill, here were all these houses arranged in a circle-some sight. Housing was hard to come by, so ours was one of many made by the Company from converted boxcars. Our house was no. 11 on the row of 12 on the flats. It was our home for 14 1/2 years.
In 1949 I started working at the cookhouse, that is what we called Marsh's Restaurant. I worked for Ben Marsh and his wife Marcella. It was nice when we had a full crew, but harder at slack time because we still had to do everything but with less help.
Collen Ross and I lived next door to each other and I remember us walking home from work in the evenings, talking, and seeing the moon and stars overhead.
The persons who helped me share those memories were my husband, Bill; a man who was liked by everyone, and my son Gary Parkerson, who grew up and worked there too.
In January 1962, we moved to Lewiston."
In 1949 I started working at the cookhouse, that is what we called Marsh's Restaurant. I worked for Ben Marsh and his wife Marcella. It was nice when we had a full crew, but harder at slack time because we still had to do everything but with less help.
Collen Ross and I lived next door to each other and I remember us walking home from work in the evenings, talking, and seeing the moon and stars overhead.
The persons who helped me share those memories were my husband, Bill; a man who was liked by everyone, and my son Gary Parkerson, who grew up and worked there too.
In January 1962, we moved to Lewiston."
Monday, September 12, 2011
Nelson Fenstermacher-New Swimming Pool
After using the pond across the tracks from the Shops for years as a swimming pool, the people of Headquarters decided they would like a real swimming pool. After some discussion, they decided it would be the cheapest to make it out of logs. Red River Hot Springs, down by Elk City has one so they patterned one after it.
Potlatch Forest Inc. furnished the equipment while the men of the community did the brain work and labor. (Bob Allen ran the dozer) After a number of hours spent in the evening and on weekends, a new regulation pool was build and opened. (concrete bottom and log sides.)
The community of Headquarters enjoyed this pool fro a number of years until the state decided the logs were unsanitary. That water was alot purer than some city drinking water today. The swimming pool was closed by state order and filled in. (By Bob Allen)
One cold and blustery evening in early Dec. of 1957, the town was quiet and peaceful as usual. There was snow on the ground with a skiff in the air looking for more. At 8 p.m., this peaceful evening was shattered by the wailing of the fire siren on top of the old warehouse. Everyone came alert as that meant a fire or some other town emergency. All came out into this cold evening to find out what was going on. Our new Quonset hut style Community Hall was on fire. Let it be said, they lost the beautiful community hall except for the hardwood floor. There was enough water on it to save it.
The people of Headquarters received another new hall shortly after with the same floor that came thorugh the fire.-Nelson Fenstermacher
Potlatch Forest Inc. furnished the equipment while the men of the community did the brain work and labor. (Bob Allen ran the dozer) After a number of hours spent in the evening and on weekends, a new regulation pool was build and opened. (concrete bottom and log sides.)
The community of Headquarters enjoyed this pool fro a number of years until the state decided the logs were unsanitary. That water was alot purer than some city drinking water today. The swimming pool was closed by state order and filled in. (By Bob Allen)
One cold and blustery evening in early Dec. of 1957, the town was quiet and peaceful as usual. There was snow on the ground with a skiff in the air looking for more. At 8 p.m., this peaceful evening was shattered by the wailing of the fire siren on top of the old warehouse. Everyone came alert as that meant a fire or some other town emergency. All came out into this cold evening to find out what was going on. Our new Quonset hut style Community Hall was on fire. Let it be said, they lost the beautiful community hall except for the hardwood floor. There was enough water on it to save it.
The people of Headquarters received another new hall shortly after with the same floor that came thorugh the fire.-Nelson Fenstermacher
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Edwin & Betty Weilep
In the Fall of 1948, I arrived in Headquarters on the Clearwater Stage line. That evening, I went out to Camp 55 on Alder Creek. Walt McLeod was the driver. The Speeder that we rode in had a flat wheel on it and it bounced around quite a little and the fact that the PFI railroad track was not too smooth; did not make the rider any smoother. It seemed as though we rode for many miles, but I don't think that the distance was greater than 5 or 6 miles cross country from Camp 55 to Headquarters.
Camp 55 was a railroad camp and in those days a railroad camp was quite mobile. The cookhouse, office and wash weer built there, but the bunkhouses were old box cars that had been converted to sleeping quarters. There were 8 men in a bunkhouse.
The next morning, about 5 a.m., I woke to the sound of a steam locomotive coming down the tracks. From the sound of it, it was traveling at the speed of at least 75 miles and hour. I decided I had better get up before the train would derail and destroy the bunkhouse that I was in. The bunkhouses in the old railroad camps were setting on a spur line that had been installed just for that purpose. I went outside and pretty soon the train came in sight. It was moving at least 5 mph, even though it sounded like 75. It was my first time of seeing a Hysler or Shay locomotive.--Edwin
Winters storms at Headquarters could be pretty severe, but our boxcar cabins at Townsite 4 were snug and could withstand a lot.
One thing, however that caused a lot of grief was electrical outages, which we had a lot of during storms. One evening, just shortly after supper, the electricity went off. I lit the kerosene lamp and got the kids into bed, two toddlers and a 2 month old. My husband, Ed, was out at Camp T. Since the two year old boy was afraid to sleep in the dark, I lit a candle and put it in the kid's room, than put the lamp in the bathroom while I indulged in a nice warm bath.
From the tub I could see the flickering refection from the candle and it finally dawned on me that suddenly it was awfully bright. I jumped out of the tub and grabbed a towel and there I was, dripping wet and naked as a jaybird, using the towel to beat out the flames form the dresser top where the candle had ignited some children's books and coloring paper.
The kids slept through the whole episode. No real damage was done, but it ran through my mind more than once how embarrassed I would have been if the neighbors had noticed and come to my aid. and me without a stitch on-Betty
Camp 55 was a railroad camp and in those days a railroad camp was quite mobile. The cookhouse, office and wash weer built there, but the bunkhouses were old box cars that had been converted to sleeping quarters. There were 8 men in a bunkhouse.
The next morning, about 5 a.m., I woke to the sound of a steam locomotive coming down the tracks. From the sound of it, it was traveling at the speed of at least 75 miles and hour. I decided I had better get up before the train would derail and destroy the bunkhouse that I was in. The bunkhouses in the old railroad camps were setting on a spur line that had been installed just for that purpose. I went outside and pretty soon the train came in sight. It was moving at least 5 mph, even though it sounded like 75. It was my first time of seeing a Hysler or Shay locomotive.--Edwin
Winters storms at Headquarters could be pretty severe, but our boxcar cabins at Townsite 4 were snug and could withstand a lot.
One thing, however that caused a lot of grief was electrical outages, which we had a lot of during storms. One evening, just shortly after supper, the electricity went off. I lit the kerosene lamp and got the kids into bed, two toddlers and a 2 month old. My husband, Ed, was out at Camp T. Since the two year old boy was afraid to sleep in the dark, I lit a candle and put it in the kid's room, than put the lamp in the bathroom while I indulged in a nice warm bath.
From the tub I could see the flickering refection from the candle and it finally dawned on me that suddenly it was awfully bright. I jumped out of the tub and grabbed a towel and there I was, dripping wet and naked as a jaybird, using the towel to beat out the flames form the dresser top where the candle had ignited some children's books and coloring paper.
The kids slept through the whole episode. No real damage was done, but it ran through my mind more than once how embarrassed I would have been if the neighbors had noticed and come to my aid. and me without a stitch on-Betty
Monday, August 15, 2011
Larry & Eleanor Arneson
Eleanor writes "we moved to Headquarters in 1947 and lived there for 37 1/2 years. It took some getting used to esp. when Larry was at camp for ten months, coming home on Saturday evening on the speeder and leaving Sunday evening. I took pictures of the deep snow the first year as I had never thought I would see snow that deep again. I was certainly in for a surprise.
I found that it was one big happy family and we realy made lasting friends there."
Larry remembers helping to survey railroad track to the Lewiston Plywood plant and rebuilding bridges on the Beaver Creek railroad. Then to Orofino to lay road in the Elk Creek country and helping to establish Camp Y.
Later He helped survey the railroads in Sliver Creek and Scofield Creek. Those days we had lots of uncut timber and few roads. The railroads declined and we had more trucks. We also used flumes to put logs in the river. We saw the change from log camps six miles form Headquarters with as many as 80 to 100 men to no logging camps; from dirt road that were mud in the spring and fall to gravel and blacktop.-Collen Seeley Ross
I found that it was one big happy family and we realy made lasting friends there."
Larry remembers helping to survey railroad track to the Lewiston Plywood plant and rebuilding bridges on the Beaver Creek railroad. Then to Orofino to lay road in the Elk Creek country and helping to establish Camp Y.
Later He helped survey the railroads in Sliver Creek and Scofield Creek. Those days we had lots of uncut timber and few roads. The railroads declined and we had more trucks. We also used flumes to put logs in the river. We saw the change from log camps six miles form Headquarters with as many as 80 to 100 men to no logging camps; from dirt road that were mud in the spring and fall to gravel and blacktop.-Collen Seeley Ross
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Maude Vaughn
Maude and her husband, Forest; moved into Headquarters in 1939. She as PFI's first aid nurse and Forest as the foreman of the machine shop.
Logging was still being done with horses. There were 18 company houses and their rent was $37.50 a month including water and sewer.
Maude was on call 24 hours a day and "was always there when you needed her, whether in her bathrobe or fully dressed" said her long time friend Nelson Fenstermacher, who drove ambulance for many years.
Logging was hazardous work and Maude dealt with many kinds of injuries. Whether it was from a chain saw or bicycle. She said "nobody said I should treat the kids, but nobody said I shouldn't either". "I wouldn't trade it for any thing in the world.
Logging was still being done with horses. There were 18 company houses and their rent was $37.50 a month including water and sewer.
Maude was on call 24 hours a day and "was always there when you needed her, whether in her bathrobe or fully dressed" said her long time friend Nelson Fenstermacher, who drove ambulance for many years.
Logging was hazardous work and Maude dealt with many kinds of injuries. Whether it was from a chain saw or bicycle. She said "nobody said I should treat the kids, but nobody said I shouldn't either". "I wouldn't trade it for any thing in the world.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
George & Alice Rauch
In 1942 Howard Bardbury announced that Potlatch-at his urging-had decided to provide housing in addition to the Circle.
I was informed by Howard that our bunkhouse, a 12 x 24 foot building, would be ready so we could take advantage of the May 30 holiday to move in. We had to scramble to get furniture that we could afford and be ready. I was working at Camp 29 as a saw boss, and Albert Houde who was Camp foreman offered me his pickup for the move.
The outside water hydrant and two-hole outhouse were in place. The bunkhouse, while in place, had not been leveled. We used a stump of a tree, that was just in the right spot for a front step.
The next morning I rode the train to work, but when I arrived home that night Alice was visibly "shook up". Gunder Hagen, the bullcook had brought his crew to level the house and found a mother and two kids occupying the building. He ranted at the crew, "Gol' Dang people can't wait 'til we get done before they move in." Alice had never experienced a Norwegian "Dutch' tirade , but she had guts to retaliate with a Pennsylvania "Dutch' tirade. Gunder went to work and had the railroad ties leveled and shims under the skids. Incidentally, Alice and Gunder became best of friends.
In 1942 Howard Bardbury announced that Potlatch-at his urging-had decided to provide housing in addition to the Circle.
I was informed by Howard that our bunkhouse, a 12 x 24 foot building, would be ready so we could take advantage of the May 30 holiday to move in. We had to scramble to get furniture that we could afford and be ready. I was working at Camp 29 as a saw boss, and Albert Houde who was Camp foreman offered me his pickup for the move.
The outside water hydrant and two-hole outhouse were in place. The bunkhouse, while in place, had not been leveled. We used a stump of a tree, that was just in the right spot for a front step.
The next morning I rode the train to work, but when I arrived home that night Alice was visibly "shook up". Gunder Hagen, the bullcook had brought his crew to level the house and found a mother and two kids occupying the building. He ranted at the crew, "Gol' Dang people can't wait 'til we get done before they move in." Alice had never experienced a Norwegian "Dutch' tirade , but she had guts to retaliate with a Pennsylvania "Dutch' tirade. Gunder went to work and had the railroad ties leveled and shims under the skids. Incidentally, Alice and Gunder became best of friends.
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