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Life in Railroad Logging Camps of the Shevlin-Hixon Company, 1916-1950 by Ronald L

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Life in Railroad Logging Camps of the Shevlin-Hixon Company, 1916-1950 by Ronald L AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Ronald L. Gregory for the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Anthropology presented on June 6. 1997. Title: Life in Railroad Logging Camps of the Shevlin-Hixon Company. 1916-1950. Abstract approved Redacted for Privacy David Brauner Remnants of railroad logging camps, and their associated features, are perhaps some of the most common archaeological resources found on public lands in the Pacific Northwest. Many camps have already been located, their cultural materials inventoried, and networks of logging railroad grades mapped. Yet, despite these efforts, little can be said about the people who made those transportable communities their homes. This study focuses on the social and physical conditions of railroad logging camps of the Shevlin-Hixon Company of Bend, Oregon, from the company's inception in 1916 until it ceased operations in 1950. Historical literature combined with oral history interviews are used to describe camp movement and physical lay- out, living accommodations, community amenities, and the kind of social life Shevlin-Hixon logging camps offered its residents. The information presented here not only presents a historical picture of a community that no longer exists but should provide future researchers, particularly cultural resource specialists, with a rudimentary model by which to assess similar railroad logging camps and features throughout the Pacific Northwest. ©Copyright by Ronald L. Gregory June 6, 1997 All Rights Reserved Life in Railroad Logging Camps of the Shevlin-Hixon Company, 1916-1950 by Ronald L. Gregory AThESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Completed June 6, 1997 Commencement June, 1998 Master of Arts thesis of Ronald L. Greorv presented on June 6. 1997. APPROVED: Redacted for Privacy Major Professor, representing Applied Anthropology Redacted for Privacy Chair of Department of Anthropology Redacted for Privacy Dean of Gradi4te School I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. Ronald ACKNOWLEDGMENTS It would be impossible to name here all of the people who have been of help to me, but there are some to whom a special debt is owed. First and foremost among those are Dr. David Brauner, Dr. William Robbins, and Dr. Courtland Smith of Oregon State University who provided invaluable guidance and encouragement as this study developed. Their high standards of scholarship have served both as examples and inspiration, while their knowledge and experience eased the problems of research. Among Oregon State University Anthropology Staff, special thanks to Dr. David McMurry, Dr. Joan Gross, and Dr. Roberta Hall who always found time to answer questions, and offer advice and encouragement during the course of their busy schedules. Loretta Wardrip, also of Oregon State University, gave generously of her time to assist in the early stages of transcribing oral history testimony. Members of the Deschutes National Forest Service Staff to whom a note of appreciation is due are Robert Jensen, who provided valuable information for the development of text maps, and archaeologists Paul Claeyssens, Lucy Hamilton, Chris Lipscomb, and Alex Bourdeau who gave freely of their time to help locate cultural resource site reports, maps, and other pertinent materials. The entire staff of Central Oregon Community College Library was also of considerable assistance in locating materials for this study. Foremost among those staff members is Joann Corliss who continually located obscure pieces of information buried in the library and sent, what seemed like, endless roles of Bend Bulletinmicrofilm to me at Oregon State University. Joann would be a truly valuable asset to any research institution. Jim Hosmer and Ruth Conklin both generously supplied additional historic photographs, copies of company newsletters and conimentary about the Shevlin- Hixon Company in general and the logging camps in particular. A particular note of appreciation also goes to participants of the the Shevlin-Hixon Oral History Project; LaI)essa Walter, Rosanna Duberow, Lois Gunipert, Herb and Lee Maker, Melvin Raper, Bill Baer, Jr., Robert Conklin, Keith Clark, Maurine Ratliff, John Shevlin, and Clint Olson, Jr. This wonderful group of people invited me into their homes, made me feel comfortable, and then shared with me their photographs and memories about life in Shevlin-Hixon's railroad logging camps. Much of the information in this study would not be available had it not been for them. I hope I got it down right. Friends and colleagues to whom a debt of gratitude is owed for their ideas, questions, criticisms, encouragement, as well as their patience when I would occasionally slip-off the deep end and begin to rant and rave include Marci Todd, JohnZancanella, Scott Goodman, Lindon Hylton, John Lupher, Greg and Connie O'Neill, Delight Stone, Bob and Sue Obermire, and particularly Jorie Clark for her generosity of spirit and friendship during the long course of this study. Finally, thanks of a very special sort go to my parents for their continued moral support and my wife Sue, and daughter Claire for their immeasurable tolerance, quiet encouragement and uncountable sacrifices. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 The Research Problem 1 Objectives 2 Methodology and Sources 3 Oral ITistory 7 Study Bias 10 Environmental Setting 11 2. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW 14 Development of the Pacific Northwest Timber Industry to 1910 14 Logging Practices 18 Early Central Oregon Sawmills 20 The Great Timber Rush 21 The Railroad Comes to Bend 23 3. THE SHE VLIN-HIXON COMPANY 27 Logging. Operations 30 Dangers in the Woods 34 4. ORIGINS OF EARLY CAMP RESIDENTS 40 Central Oregon Homesteaders 40 European Immigrants 44 Lake States Migrants 47 5. CAMP MOVEMENTS AND PHYSICAL LAYOUT 50 1916-1932 50 1932-1950 53 Summary 61 6. CAMP STRUCTURES AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS 63 Family Homes 63 Food Storage 69 Slop Holes 71 Bachelor Accommodations 73 Dining Rooms and Cook House 77 Bath House and Power Plant 83 Camp Schools 85 Camp Store 88 Church 89 Round House 89 Refuse Disposal 90 Other Structures 91 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 7. SOCIAL ACTWITIES 93 Fair Weather, Outdoor Recreation 93 Outdoor Winter Recreation 98 The Company Picmc 99 Camp Entertainment 111 Movies 111 Church Services 112 Community Dances 115 Other Activities 119 Women's Activities 124 Children 126 8. CURRENT CAMP CONDITIONS 128 Refuse Dumps 128 Slop Holes and Root Cellars 130 Railroad Grades 131 Historical Archaeology and Oral History Testimony 135 Cultural Materials and the Law 139 9. SUMMARY 141 REFERENCES CITED 146 APPENDD(A GLOSSARY 151 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1.1 General vicinity of Shevlin-Hixon logging operations,1916-1950. 12 3.1 The Shevlin-Hixon Company was located at the south end of Bend, on the west side of the Deschutes River. 29 3.2 The company included several manufacturing plants in addition to its mills. 29 3.3 During the first ten years of production, horse teams and high wheels were used to skid logs to landings, Ca. early1920s. 31 3.4 Shevlin-Hixon operated four Lidgerwood skidders through the 1920s. 33 3.5 Log train derailments were not uncommon among railroad logging companies, Ca.1920s. 35 3.6 Cecil Cox, long-time locomotive engineer for Shevlin-Hixon was reputed to have survived five derailments. 35 3.7 Rigging men had one of the most dangerous jobs because they could not match the speed and endurance of machinery, Ca.1920s. 37 3.8 The power of Lidgerwood skidders was so great that they could pull themselves off the tracks if logs they were yarding got hung-up on their way to the landing. 37 3.9 William Antonie, skidder engineer. 38 4.1 During the homestead era, central Oregon was promoted as a "fertile tract of land capable of high cultivation." 41 4.2 Many persons were lured to central Oregon with the hope of turning marginal land into a bountiful garden. 42 4.3 Austere environmental conditions on the high desert led to the eventual abandonment of most central Oregon homesteads. 42 4.4 Oral history testmiony suggests that numerous track layers in early Shevlin-Hixon camps were from eastern European countries. 45 LIST OF FIGURES (Continued) Figure Page 4.5 Tom Long and "Scottie" Hodge were two of the many workers that made the move from Minnesota to central Oregon. 49 4.6 Individuals who migrated with the company were often experienced woods workers. 49 5.1 Shevlin-Hixon logging railroads and camps, 1916-1930. 51 5.2 Shevlin-Hixon logging railroads, 1932-1942. 55 5.3 Logging railroads and camp, 1942-1950. 56 5.4 Camp houses were arranged according to a predetermined town plat after 1932. 57 6.1 Family accommodations in Shevlin-Hixon's early camps were relatively simple designs, Ca. 1916. 64 6.2 Houses were constructed to be easily loaded onto railroad cars when it was time to relocate to a new camp, ca. early 1920s. 64 6.3 Covered porches folded against houses for ease of transportation. 66 6.4 Family homes, from the mid 1920s to 1950, were divided into two rooms. 66 6.5 The Walter residence at La Pine camp, ca. 1933. 70 6.6 "Slope holes" were used to dispose of organic materials and other refuse. 72 6.7 Bachelors constituted an important, though often transient, segment of Shevlin-Hixon's logging operations, Ca. 1920s. 75 6.8 Single men lived in company bunk houses that remained on railroad spurs. 75 6.9 Bunk house accommodations were typically spartan in nature. 76 6.10 Shirts, coats, and hats hung from pegs or nails hammered into walls, while garments were draped across windows to act as curtains.
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