PYSHT — Descendants of T.D. Merrill, R.D. Merrill and Clark Ring gathered with others on a sun-drenched deck of the historic Pysht lodge Wednesday to celebrate Merrill & Ring’s 125 years in timber management.
A crowd of more than 200 packed a tree-lined yard behind the West End landmark as dignitaries took turns recognizing the heritage of the privately owned forest products company.
Former Port Angeles Mayor Glenn Wiggins, a longtime Merrill & Ring employee, introduced the third-, fourth- and fifth-generation owners of the Port Angeles-based company and its 30,000-acre Pysht Tree Farm.
Merrill & Ring and its partners hold 75,000 acres of timberland in Western Washington, British Columbia and New Zealand.
Wiggins said it all started when brothers R.D. and T.D. Merrill canoed up the Pysht River on a scouting expedition in 1880.
Merrill & Ring was founded in November 1886 with the purchase of the tree farm and other logging operations.
By 1917, Pysht was a booming logging camp with a railroad, port, schoolhouse, movie house and living quarters. At its peak, some 500 loggers and their families lived and worked there, longtime Merrill & Ring forester Joseph Murray said.
“Merrill & Ring has been a core investment of our family for a very long time, but I also know that Pysht and the adjacent tree farm have meant much more than just a financial investment,” said Dick Stroble, Merrill & Ring president.
“I think a notable example of our heritage and foresight was R.D. Merrill’s desire to replant after the first harvest.
“He was criticized for this and ridiculed. But he had a vision of sustaining the timber resource on this property before it was fashionable to plant trees.”
State Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim who is also a Clallam County commissioner, said Merrill & Ring’s longevity is “inspiring” in an age of quarterly financial reports.
“Certainly here on the Peninsula and the 24th Legislative District, timber and that long-range economic platform that it gives us here for family-wage jobs and for long-term economic stability can’t be overlooked,” Tharinger said.
Peter Garrett, Clark Ring’s grandson and former Merrill & Ring president, predicted that the company will be “in existence for a long period of time.”
“You who are running it, keep at it,” Garrett told the 40 current employees.
“You’re doing a great job.”
Clallam County Commissioner Mike Doherty and Port of Port Angeles Commissioner George Schoenfeldt each presented the families with proclamations recognizing the 125th anniversary of Merrill & Ring.
“When timber’s moving, the economy’s moving,” Schoenfeldt said.
County Commissioner Mike Chapman and County Administrator Jim Jones also were on hand, as were Port Commissioner Jim McEntire and Port Executive Director Jeff Robb.
McEntire’s challenger in the race for Clallam County commissioner to replace Tharinger, Linda Barnfather, was there to represent state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, for whom she works.
Congressional staffer Sara Crumb spoke on behalf of U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair.
“Norm has really enjoyed the working relationship he has with this company,” she said. “Congratulations, and here’s to many more years.”
Cordy Wagner, R.D. Merrill’s grandson, told a story about his grandfather wading into the Pysht estuary and grabbing an oyster off the bottom. Merrill displayed the seaweed-covered mollusk, broke it open and ate it raw.
“I have never enjoyed, since then, shellfish,” Wagner said.
Wagner said he looked up to his grandfather, whom he described as forthright, honest and “an amazingly shrewd businessman.”
“He’d been leading this wonderful company with a great deal of integrity,” Wagner said.
Representatives from the cities of Port Angeles and Forks, the Lower Elwha Klallam and Quileute tribes, regulatory agencies and other timber management companies were in attendance.
A catered barbecue lunch was provided for the guests. Many filed into the wood-framed Pysht lodge to admire the historic photos and superimposed survey map of Pysht from 1915.
Also on display were books filled with Merrill & Ring payroll records from the 1920s.
Copies of Alice Alexander’s book, Merrill & Ring: The First 125 Years, were distributed.
Norm Schaaf, Merrill & Ring vice president and timberland manager, concluded the program by thanking the contractors, customers, consultants, financial partners, government partners and landowners with whom Merrill & Ring works.
He also thanked the three family groups that own Merrill & Ring — R.D. Merrill Co., Ring Family LP and JLCG LLC — for their years of dedication to forest management.
“Your foresight, wisdom, tenacity, endurance and patience: We would not be here without that,” Schaaf said.
“Even though we’re not family, we are certainly treated that way.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
