Carlsborg Mill & Timber Co. 1916-1942
Created 6/11/11
These two pictures show the crib base of the trestle on the east side of the creek
crossing.(01/14/11)
crossing.(01/14/11)
These three pictures show the piling, and drift pin, for the trestle across the
east fork of McDonald Creek.(01/14/11)
east fork of McDonald Creek.(01/14/11)
My buddy Jeff Happe in one of the throughcuts past the trestle. On this trip we just explored to the first
junction past the trestle.(01/14/11)
junction past the trestle.(01/14/11)
A very nice springboarded stump just above the trestle.(01/14/11)
The East Fork of McDonald Creek crossing was an interesting trestle. The only remains are on the east side of the
creek, but I would assume that the west side was a mirror of the east. Rather than coming on the trestle straight on, the
curve was too sharp so they had to switchback to cross the trestle. A tail track was built up a small fork of the creek just
south of the crossing, which the train would pull onto and the switch would be thrown so that it could continue on
across the trestle. The trestle was pilings when it left the roadbed until near the edge of the creek where a log crib was
constructed to hold the actual stringers to cross the creek. Once on the other side of the creek, the grade continued
normally.
creek, but I would assume that the west side was a mirror of the east. Rather than coming on the trestle straight on, the
curve was too sharp so they had to switchback to cross the trestle. A tail track was built up a small fork of the creek just
south of the crossing, which the train would pull onto and the switch would be thrown so that it could continue on
across the trestle. The trestle was pilings when it left the roadbed until near the edge of the creek where a log crib was
constructed to hold the actual stringers to cross the creek. Once on the other side of the creek, the grade continued
normally.
The Carlsborg Mill & Timber Company was started in 1915 by C.J. Erickson. Erickson was a very wealthy construction
magnate and had purchased a large tract of timber in the Lost Mountain area and decided to build his mill next to the
Seattle, Port Angeles, and Western Tracks. Construction of the mill began in August of 1915 and Erickson decided to
name the mill and the company after Karlsborg in Sweden, where he had worked when he was younger. Tracks were
laid heading in a SSW direction until they began running along side of McDonald Creek. From here, they continued
branching in all directions. The main mill, shingle mill, and log pond were constructed on an 87 acre site, with a growing
company town around it. Initially the mill was designed to have a daily output of 50mbf, but would later be upgraded to
produce 100mbf. In the mid 1930's Erickson sold the mill due to a declining market. A five way partnership of Lou
Hubbard, W. Washburn, Victor Soderberg, Nichols, and Trumbull. However, in 1936 they sold the mill to a Seattle firm
who intended to scrap out the mill. On January 1st, 1937 the mill was reopened as Lawrence McLellan, Harry
O'Donnell, and William Westover had purchased it and saved it from scrapping out. They operated it until 1942 when it
was sold to Crescent Logging Company. With most of the timber in the Lost Mountain area cut over, Crescent decided
to feed the mill with logs from their Sol Duck holdings via the Port Angeles and Western, and truck in anything else.
The Carlsborg tracks were torn up and the lines were abandoned. The mill itself would continue to operate through
various owners until 1967, when it was closed for good and razed. The mill pond was filled in and became a trailer park.
magnate and had purchased a large tract of timber in the Lost Mountain area and decided to build his mill next to the
Seattle, Port Angeles, and Western Tracks. Construction of the mill began in August of 1915 and Erickson decided to
name the mill and the company after Karlsborg in Sweden, where he had worked when he was younger. Tracks were
laid heading in a SSW direction until they began running along side of McDonald Creek. From here, they continued
branching in all directions. The main mill, shingle mill, and log pond were constructed on an 87 acre site, with a growing
company town around it. Initially the mill was designed to have a daily output of 50mbf, but would later be upgraded to
produce 100mbf. In the mid 1930's Erickson sold the mill due to a declining market. A five way partnership of Lou
Hubbard, W. Washburn, Victor Soderberg, Nichols, and Trumbull. However, in 1936 they sold the mill to a Seattle firm
who intended to scrap out the mill. On January 1st, 1937 the mill was reopened as Lawrence McLellan, Harry
O'Donnell, and William Westover had purchased it and saved it from scrapping out. They operated it until 1942 when it
was sold to Crescent Logging Company. With most of the timber in the Lost Mountain area cut over, Crescent decided
to feed the mill with logs from their Sol Duck holdings via the Port Angeles and Western, and truck in anything else.
The Carlsborg tracks were torn up and the lines were abandoned. The mill itself would continue to operate through
various owners until 1967, when it was closed for good and razed. The mill pond was filled in and became a trailer park.
References:
Ghost Camps & Boom Towns by JoAnn Roe. Montevista Press 1995.
Jimmy Come Lately by Jervis Russel. Clallam County Historical Society 1971.
Logging Railroads of the West by Kramer Adams. Superior Publishing Company 1961
Ghost Camps & Boom Towns by JoAnn Roe. Montevista Press 1995.
Jimmy Come Lately by Jervis Russel. Clallam County Historical Society 1971.
Logging Railroads of the West by Kramer Adams. Superior Publishing Company 1961