FORKS — On May 23, 1991, the town of Forks was closed.
Many businesses locked up, as most residents traveled to Olympia to take part in a rally protesting critical habitat protections for the northern spotted owl.
In the years that have followed, the timber industry has changed, and many have left the trade.
But those who remain still want to get the story out about what the timber industry is — and what it really does.
In an effort to do this, the Forks Chamber of Commerce created a logging and mill tour.
I first went on the tour in September 1994.
I went again last week.
I arrived at the Forks Chamber of Commerce Visitor center just before 9 a.m. last Wednesday.
Taking the tour that day were Dave Kent from New Hampshire and the Huberts — Michelle, Alahna, Katie, Laura and Mary from Bremerton and Mead.
Also on the tour were some Forks residents — Phil and Gail Sharpe and Vicki Andros, whose daughter Lissy is the Forks Chamber of Commerce tourism promoter, and her sister from Texas.
Vicki admitted this was her third tour.
We met our guide for the day, Sonny Smith, a lifelong Forks resident and former timber industry worker.
Sonny did a head count, and once the seat belts were figured out, we headed south.
As we traveled down the road, the weather was perfect — it was raining.
Sonny mentioned our first point of interest: McClanahan’s Lumber, a Forks mainstay.
Continuing down the highway, I began talking with Dave from New Hampshire.
He worked as a surveyor in Quinault about 34 years ago and was anxious to see how the
timber industry has changed.
He works in the timber industry back home, and as we talked, we discovered many similar problems face the timber industry on both sides of the country.
We are soon at our first stop, Allen Logging Co., in business since 1954.
We file out of the van in a light mist and into the office to sign in and get our earplugs.
Sonny warns us: “Do not wander off.”
We learn about hog fuel and the dry kiln, and an added bonus is the fact that Phil Sharpe, who is on the tour, drove an Allen chip-truck for 18 years.
He lends his insight but admits he is not familiar with the workings of the rest of the mill, and that is why he came on the tour.
It is noisy.
Conveyer belts whir above our heads, and we go down stairs and through buildings while Sonny explains the workings of the mill.
Then it was back in the van.
Our next stop was the Duncan Cedar, “world’s largest western red cedar,” an amazing thing to see.
The last time I saw it — 17 years ago — it stood alone.
This time, many small cedars grow at its base.
A trip around the giant tree, and we are off to find some logging.
Our guide has been told Dahlgren Logging is just starting a new job on Road 1718 near Nolan Creek, just around the corner from the Duncan Cedar.
As we meet a loaded Barry Swanson truck, we know we are on the right road.
Finding the site, we exit the van, and the sun comes out.
We watch as the carriage brings in turns of logs and finally spot the heads of the choker-men way down over the hill.
Pete Dahlgren and his son Chad discuss logging with Dave from New Hampshire, and Sonny tells the group about replanting.
Back in the van, we turn onto the highway, and it begins to pour. The group credits Sonny with our good fortune of staying fairly dry, and soon we are back at the Chamber office. It is noon.
The fact is, fewer people are working in the Forks-area timber industry.
But the Forks Chamber of Commerce will continue to remind everyone — one van-load at a time — that the community and the generations that built it had their collective roots in the harvest of timber.
Tours leave the Forks Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center every Wednesday at 9 a.m. May through September.
Seating is limited.
Reservations are suggested.
To reserve a spot, phone the Forks chamber at 360-374-2531.
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Christi Baron is a longtime West End resident who is the office and property manager for Lunsford & Associates real estate.
She lives with her husband, Howard, in Forks.
Phone her at 360-374-3141 or 360-374-2244 with items for the column, or email her at hbaron@centurytel.net.
West End Neighbor appears on the PDN’s commentary page every other Tuesday.
