Warren Photograph Collection - Finding Aid | Library Special Collections & Archives

The Warren Photograph Collection provides a visual history of the lumber company town of Crannell (known as Bulwinkle prior to 1922) and the Little River Redwood Company (LRRC). LRRC purchased the Vance Redwood Mill in 1900 and merged with Hammond Lumber Company in 1931; these companies are also represented in this collection.

Access

The collection is open for research.

Copyright

Copyright has not been assigned to Humboldt State University. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce in any format, please contact the Special Collections Librarian.

Acquisition Information

Walter Warren donated the collection to Cal Poly Humboldt Library in 1994.

Biographical Information

Walter J. Warren was born in Eureka in 1912, one of three sons of parents who emigrated from Croatia. He lived with his family in Bulwinkle/Crannell from 1914 until 1926 when the family moved to Arcata and Walter started high school. A one year business course at Humboldt State started him on his career in insurance and accounting. He retired from Warren, Starkey and Gray Insurance Agency in 1980 as a long time civic and business leader in Humboldt County. Some of his activities included board membership of Humboldt Federal Savings & Loan Association, Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District, Arcata Rotary Club and Arcata Chamber of Commerce; he was also secretary of Reclamation District No. 768 for many years. Warren's major hobby was collecting and restoring old logging steam locomotives. His photograph collection reflects that early experience and continuing life interest until his death in 1996. Two of the Warren family homes are now part of the Humboldt State University campus.

Scope and Content of the Collection

Crannell flourished during the 1920s. Two major fires, in 1908 and 1945, frame the beginning and the decline of this company town. The 1908 fire at Luffenholtz followed logging by Hammond Lumber Company and devastated the area from Little River to Trinidad, although it spared the newly built LRRC mill at Bulwinkle. The fire in 1945 destroyed the system of railroad trestles and marked the transition to hauling logs by truck. In 1947 Hammond shifted its focus of activity from Crannell to Big Lagoon. The last vestiges of Crannell were obliterated in 1969 by Georgia Pacific who acquired Hammond in 1956.

The collection consists of approximately 500 photographs, samples of promotional materials produced by and/or used by LRRC in the 1920s, three presentation albums, and four rolled panoramas. Photohistorian Peter Palmquist's review of the collection in December 1993 for the donor includes this description:

"The photographs date between c.1910 and c.1940. While most of the prints lack a photographer's stamp, there are representative numbers by S.U. Bunnell, A.W. Ericson, Freeman Art Company, Jesse Meiser, Seely Brothers and Dold & Dold. Most of the photographs are of a standard commercial quality. The physical condition of the photographs average very good. Subject content centers on the Little River Redwood Company and the adjacent town of Crannell (a company town). There are views of townsites, company housing, mill overviews, logging sites, dry kilns, saw shop, logging trains, caterpiller tractors at work, ship and harbor views, employee groups, loggers and lumbermen at work and play, etc."

Seventy five of the photographs in this collection were selected to be digitized as part of a grant project through the California State Library (2005-06).

Arrangement of the Collection

Copy prints of a representative sample of the collection (89 items) were made for the donor, at his request, during the acquisition of the collection; this action disturbed any original collection order that may have existed. During processing of the collection in 2002 and 2005, the photographs were organized and arranged in part by date, to further the understanding of this company over time and to provide a basis for correlation with related collections. Further groupings are by general subject matter and/or photographer. There is an extensive sequence of photographs by Dold & Dold ca.1924 with identifying titles. Another group of Dold & Dold photographs ca.1930 corresponds to a series of 18 postcards located at the Trinidad Museum which are reproduced and described in the Summer 2004 issue of their Newsletter as coming from Katie Boyle.

The collection is arranged in four series. The photographs series is further grouped by date in three sub series; this is followed by panoramas and promotional redwood photos, promotional publications, and presentation albums.

For the 75 photographs selected to be digitized, full metadata was assigned: these images are available through the California Digital Library/Online Archive of California and its image search interface Calisphere.

Related Collections at the Cal Poly Humboldt Library

Related Humboldt Room collections include: Balke Collection; Katie Boyle Photograph Collection; Lumber Company Map Collection; and Partain Photograph Collection. Noteworthy items in the Balke Collection are the minutes of the Crannell Woman's Club (1920-1928) and the Affidavits of Registration (1912, 1914, 1922, 1926, 1944, and 1946). These document different aspects of the town, complementing the picture presented by the Warren Collection photographs. Many of the Dold & Dold photographs are also included in the Katie Boyle Photograph Collection where they are more fully identified; some of these are also published in Redwood Lumber Industry by Lynwood Carranco.

Container List

Series: Photographs

Sub series: Early years, Beginning of the Little River Redwood Company, Bulwinkle

Box 1

1. [1999.06.0001] Conrad Bullwinkel, A.W. Ericson Co. Commercial Photographers, Arcata, California [stamp]. [Boyle Collection: 6601 BA 1.14]
2. [1999.06.0002] [group portrait, Bulwinkle]
3. [1999.06.0003] Part of woods gang August, 1909. [accompanying list of 22 names, plus 2 unnamed children]

John Spear, Chopping boss
Frank Norton, Peeler
Ike James, Peeler
Isaac Matheson, Sawyer
Sam Anderson, Peeler
Joe Panachi, peeler
Andy Olsen, Chopper
Chas. Tuperanian, Chopper
S. Stenroos, Chopper
Frank Hiitola, Chopper
Victor Their, Sawyer
Henry Kane, Chopper
Ed. McCue, Chopper
Bill Severns, Chopper
Bob Ollason, Chopper
Henry Harris, Chopper
Jim McCue, Chopper
Frank Keller, Chopper
Ernest Tymon, Chopper
William Dooley, Chopper
N. Malavasey, Sawyer
Wm. Parks, Chopper

4. [1999.06.0004] Some of the employees of THE LITTLE RIVER REDWOOD COMPANY taken in Aug.1909, at Bulwinkle, Cal.

E.T. Owens, Machinist
John Fales, Whitewasher
Wm. France, Woodbuck
Ed. Johnson, Chaser
Mat Sandstrom, Grade worker
Jack Wymore, Blacksmith striker
Richard Decker, Yarding Dk.Eng.
J.G. Burkholder, Edgerman
Caspar Anderson, Sawyer
Chas.Helstrom, Sawyer
L.M. Baldwin, Teamster
Frank Sandford, Sniper
Martin Nelson, Chopper
H.W. Hunter, Swamper
Chas. Ferrari, Woodbuck
Thos. Heald, Waterbuck
P.J. Snider, rigging puller
Chas. Tuperanian, chopper
Frank Hiitola, 1st chopper
Frank Horton, Peeler
John Spear, chopping boss
Will Severns, chopper
O.F. Veasey, swamper
Ed. Wheeler, swamper
Ike James, peeler
P. Gusti, roustabout
Pietro Bosetti do [?]
Ed. Anderson, pulling shorts
A. Stolpe, pond
Davey Boyd, Engineer
J.W. Stranahan, sorting table
Andy Olsen, chopper 2nd
John Cole, Swamper
Tom Clarke, swamper
A. Finne, sorting table
Lee Anderson, Hd.Trimmerman
S. Stenroos, 1st chopper
Tom Jurck, 2nd planerman
Wm. McLaughlin, shingle sawyer
John Rosha, sorting table
Steve Banducci, tail edgerman
P. Adami, sorting table
John Stolpe, sorting table
Gus Skinner, spool tender
Martin Fraser, rigging puller
Harry Anderson, whistle boy
Jasper James, woodbuck
E.M. Shore, cyt [sic] up saw
Roderick Campbell, tail edgerroll
A. Juliani, roustabout
J.W. Craighead, piling lumber
Israel Storm, carpenter
W.H. Hegeson, loco. engineer
Phil Lambert, piling lumber
Geo. Wilbur, dogger
Clarence E. Johnson, board puller
Geo. Mc Callum, setter
John Raymond, shingle packer
T. Hanson, jointer
Fred Newman, sorting table
R. Barnett, woodbuck
John Codd, mill cleaner
Virgil Hart, whistle boy
Geo. Rogers, Sawyer

5. [1999.06.0005] [Bulwinkle group portrait, same location as 1999.06.004 photo]
6. [1999.06.0006] Bulwinkle, California August 1911, Freeman Art Co Foto Eureka Cal. [group portrait]
7. [1999.06.0007-1999.06.0008] Sept. 1911, Freeman Art Co Foto [man and 3 women and dog sitting in cut of 15 Ft Diameter tree, 3 American flags above]
8. [1999.06.0009] [company official in office] [Partain 93]
9. [1999.06.0010] Interior office Little River Redwood Company, Foto by Seely Bros. Arcata Cal. [portrait of four men, diagram on verso identifies Harry W. Cole, Vice Pres. & Gen Mgr. Of LRRCo.]
10. [1999.06.0011-1999.06.0014] [Posed portraits of work scenes, ca. 1907-1910, including steam donkey]
11. [1999.06.0015-1999.06.0020] [Posed portraits of work scenes]
12. [1999.06.0021] All one tree on this train of logs, Oct 1913
13. [1999.06.0022] Little River Redwood Co. #2, Ed Cole – Engineer sitting right side smoke box [plus three other men], picture was taken at the Mill Pond in Bullwinkle Aug. 1913
14. [1999.06.0023-1999.06.0025] Foto by Seely Bros., 1912. [Same log, one just log, one with Alex McLaughlin, one with an unidentified man]
15. [1999.06.0026] Lower Little River at High Tide, 1912
16. [1999.06.0027] [Bulwinkle, ca. 1910-1913]
17. [1999.06.0028] Little River Mill, Bullwinkle Cal, Freeman Art Co. Foto., ca. 1912-1913
18. [1999.06.0029-1999.06.0030] Seely Foto, June 1913 [Bulwinkle]
19. [1999.06.0031-1999.06.0033] [Bulwinkle, ca. 1906-1912, per Tom Sharp]
20. [1999.06.0034] [Bulwinkle, early]
21. [1999.06.0035-1999.06.0041] [Logging, including railroads, LRRC]
22. [1999.06.0042-1999.06.0071] [Logging, workers, equipment, donkey, Camps 6, 8, 9, 10]
23. [1999.06.0072-1999.06.0090] [Logging, workers on site, miscellaneous]
24. [1999.06.0091] Mill pond at Bulwinkle, April 1920
25. [1999.06.0092-1999.06.0100] Taken by Kenneth Kilburn, October 12, 1920 [Bulwinkle]
26. [1999.06.0101] Engin No2, Bulwinkle, Freeman Art Co [LRRLumber Co. No2 at Little River Junction, Ed Cole engineer, ca. 1921/Steam in the Redwoods, p. 51]
27. [1999.06.0102] Taken by [?] Lang, November 1921 [LRRC #1]
28. [1999.06.0103-1999.06.0107] Bulwinkle, April 27, 1922

Sub series: Thriving years of Little River Redwood Company, Bulwinkle becomes Crannell

29. [1999.06.0108] Crannell, Calif, July 1922 [looking to the ocean]
30. [1999.06.0109-1999.06.0112] [Little River beach, dunes, etc, ca. 1922]
31. [1999.06.0113-1999.06.0115] The Little River Redwood Co., Crannell, Humboldt Co., Calif, Photograph by Freeman Art Co., April 1923 [Residences, including Eucalyptus Heights] 32. [1999.06.0116-1999.06.0126] The Little River Redwood Co., Crannell, Calif., May 15, 1924, Freeman Art Co. Eucalyptus Heights and the Lodge

Box 2

1. [1999.06.0127-1999.06.0168] Little River Redwood Co Crannell Calif., Dold & Dold [ca. 1924, each photograph has title assigned by photographer]
2. [1999.06.0169-1999.06.0173] [Crannell, August 1924, all but one have typed title on verso]
3. [1999.06.0174-1999.06.0179] The Little River Redwood Co. Cuttler dry Kiln, Photo Freeman Art Co. Eureka
4. [1999.06.0180] [4 men, 3 women posed on rail car in woods]
5. [1999.06.0181-1999.06.0187] This folder is located in Box 6. Scene in timberland of The Little River Redwood Co Crannell, California, September 1924 [Photograph taken by Major David T. Mason on trail leading from Little River to Lagoon through company timber, and others from same trip, also in 1930 album] Party, reading from left to right:

Mr. Tanner – Federal forester
Mr. Andrews
Wm. M. Wheeler [?]
H. W. Cole
Capt. A. W. Elam – Company’s forest engineer

6. [1999.06.0188] Crannell, October 1928 [stacked lumber]
7. [1999.06.0189-1999.06.0201] The Little River Redwood Co Crannell Calif., January 1930 [promotional photographs, probably by Dold & Dold, per Trinidad Museum Newsletter Summer 2004]
8. [1999.06.0202-1999.06.0204] [company officials posed, probably by Dold & Dold, per Trinidad Museum Newsletter Summer 2004]
9. [1999.06.0205-1999.06.0222] [Logging scenes, with workers, ca. 1930]
10. [1999.06.0223-1999.06.0243] [Logging scenes, with caterpillar, ca. 1930, typed titles on verso of some]

Sub series: Miscellaneous

11. [1999.06.0244-1999.06.0245] [Stump House, Eureka]
12. [1999.06.0246] Voyage May 1919 Steamer Washington, Freeman Art Co [car being unloaded]
13. [1999.06.0247-1999.06.0250] Steamer Munsomo at Fairhaven Loading for Cuba, August 1926
14. [1999.06.0251-1999.06.0266] [Humboldt Bay, Samoa, ca. 1920s]
15. [1999.06.0267-1999.06.0272] [ships, miscellaneous, unknown]
16. [1999.06.0273-1999.06.0281] [elsewhere on north coast, men posing on redwood cuts]
17. [1999.06.0282-1999.06.0289] [elsewhere on north coast, scenic views, artistic landscapes]
18. [1999.06.0290-1999.06.0299] [elsewhere on north coast, scenic views, horse and buggy]
19. [1999.06.0300-1999.06.0303] [elsewhere on north coast, scenic views, horseless carriage]
20. [1999.06.0304-1999.06.0327] [elsewhere on north coast, scenic views, forest]
21. [1999.06.0328-1999.06.0332] [elsewhere on north coast, scenic views, with people in forest]
22. [1999.06.0333-1999.06.0340] [scenic views, Carlotta/Weott area, Pythian Park] photo by H.S. Lawton, San Francisco
23. [1999.06.0341-1999.06.0352] [very miscellaneous] [no photo for .0353]
24. [1999.06.0354] [teepee burner] Bickel/I.W. Johnson Engineering Company, Tacoma Washington
25. [1999.06.0355-1999.06.0365] Arcata Redwood, David Swanlund, 1961?

Series: Panoramas and promotional redwood photos

Box 3

1. [1999.06.0366-1999.06.0373] Rolph Shipbuilding Co, Rolph Cal, June 20, 1918, Freeman Art Co Foto [panorama]
2. [1999.06.0374-1999.06.0381] Panoramic view of Fairhaven tidewater storage yards and wharves [2 copies of Rolph panorama, folder 58]
3. [1999.06.0382-1999.06.0384] [panoramic view of Crannell looking south, Freeman Art, connect with presentation book]
4. [1999.06.0385-1999.06.0394] Presentation Book, Harry W. Cole, property of Hill-Davis Co, August 1947 – related photos, titles typed on verso
5. [1999.06.0395-1999.06.0403] [Little River Redwood Company promotional redwood photos]
6. [1999.06.0404-1999.06.426] [Redwood promotional photos and postcards, including one postcard of Trinidad Museum Newsletter Summer 2004 issue and 8 postcards from A. W. Ericson photographs]
7. [1999.06.427-1999.06.431] [Portraits, various, LRRC employees]
8. [1921 tourist brochure: On the Redwood Forest Highway; California Redwood card; newspaper clipping: Local company Sends Big Tree, gift from LRRC to San Francisco]

Box 4

Four very fragile rolled panoramas include one ca. 1912 by S.U. Bunnell who is represented both in digital collections at the Library of Congress as well as locally with a framed panorama of Crannell, looking south, hanging in the Humboldt Room of the Humboldt County Library. These are not available for use at this time.

Series: Promotional publications

Box 5

California Redwood: its uses, appearance characteristics and physical and mechanical properties in comparison with other woods, California Redwood Association, 1926
Redwood for better farm structures, California Redwood Association, 1927
Beautiful Homes [floor plans], n.d.
Pipe Engineering, Little River Redwood Company, [ca 1929]
Tank Engineering, Little River Redwood Company, [ca 1929]
Redwood Sales Manual, California Redwood Association, 1926 (2 copies)

Series: Presentation albums

Box 6

LRRC album, Freeman Art Company, 1924. This includes two four-part panorama views of Crannell, one looking north, the other south, and a four-part panorama of Fairhaven, site of a LRRC operation. Two other nearly identical copies of this album are located at the Clarke Historical Museum and the Humboldt County Historical Society; the latter one is described in Humboldt Historian, Winter 2003.
A second album can be dated to approximately 1930. Although the 20 photographs are not listed or labeled, many can be identified as corresponding to a series of 18 postcards located at the Trinidad Museum which are reproduced and described in the Summer 2004 issue of their Newsletter as coming from Katie Boyle. Others are duplicates of photographs from the Library’s Partain Photograph Collection of lumbering photographs from the Hammond Lumber Company files.

Box 7

The third album is quite late, dated August 1947. It was apparently prepared by (or for?) Harry W. Cole, who came to Bulwinkle from Canada in 1909 and remained with the company as general manager and vice-president until his retirement in 1936. He then became general manager of Hill-Davis and later was secretary-treasurer of Arcata Redwood until his final retirement in 1957. This album portrays timber and timber lands of Hill-Davis Company and its subsidiary, Arcata Redwood Company, located north of Crannell, in the Orick area. Many of the unidentified lumbering scenes in the third album are duplicates of the Partain Photograph Collection of lumbering photographs from the Hammond Lumber Company files ca. 1890-1920; at least one is an aerial photograph by Merle Shuster.

Bibliography

Abbott, Arthur G. Luffenholtz: Memories of Big Fire. Humboldt Historian 33:1, January-February 1985, pp.17-19.

Allen, James B. The Company Town in the American West. University of Oklahoma Press,

Carranco, Lynwood. Redwood Lumber Industry, San Marino, CA: Golden West Books, 1982.

Carranco, Lynwood, and Henry L. Sorensen. Steam in the Redwoods. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, Ltd, 1988, especially pp. 52-69.

Coyne, Bonnie. Town No More. Pacifica, July 1971, pp. 11-15.

Mengel, Lowell S. Canadians in the Redwoods: the Little River Redwood Company. Humboldt Historian, May-June 1976, pp.13-14.

Newsletter of the TrinidadMuseum Society. The Winter (April, May, June) 2004 and Summer (June, July, August) 2004 issues have several relevant articles, including the one about the 1930 postcard set of Little River Redwood Co. in the Summer 2004 issue.

The WhistlePunk, Newsletter of the Timber Heritage Association, April 2006. This issue contains at least two articles of interest, one on page 3 describing a donation of the Miscellaneous Document files from the Little River Redwood Company which were used in part as source for the lengthy, very informative article on pages 4-6, The Little River Redwood Co.

Subject Headings

Humboldt County
Crannell
Little River Redwood Company
Company towns
Lumbering
Forests and forestry

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Warren Photograph Collection - Finding Aid

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