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by Keith Petersen
At a bend in the Palouse River, in the shadow of Gold Hill, in northern
Latah County, Idaho, rests a town named Potlatch. It is not particularly
picturesque and projects an image of gritty working-class living. But the
ordinary appearance of Potlatch belies its unusual past. For this was a
company town-a town completely owned by a large lumber company.
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But Potlatch's history is more than just the history of a company
town. Potlatch shows the history of the West in microcosm -- the
exploitation of natural resources; the impact of big business upon
the development of a rural area; and ordinary people making a place
their home.
Company Town presents an insightful look into the life of a rural
community and follows its progress through the decades. It shows
the close ties between community life and the larger spheres of the
timber industry, regional and national economics, and international
events. The book imparts a sense of what it was like to work in
the sawmill and live in what the Potlatch Lumber Company had
planned as a model town.
About the Author
Keith C. Petersen is a historian and writer living in Pullman,
Washington. In addition to numerous articles concerning the
history of the Palouse region, he is the author of Historical
Celebration: A Handbook for Organizers of Diamond Jubilees,
Centennials and Other Community Anniversaries, and "This
Crested Hill": An Illustrated History of the University of Idaho.
He received the Idaho Humanities Council's first annual Award for
Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities in 1986, partially
because of his work in recording and preserving the history of
Potlatch.
Company Town is available at your local bookstore or may be ordered
directly from
Washington State University Press, 1-800-354-7360.
At the turn of the century, the future of north central Idaho was tied solidly to the tails of the
timber industry. Moving swiftly eastward from his Pacific coast foothold, Fredrick Weyerhaueser
and associates had taken control over most of the timber wealth of the Gem State.
With the construction of huge sawmills at Potlatch, Elk River, and Lewiston, the production of
logs became top priority. Creating a place for the "lumberjack" to eat, sleep, and occasionally
"play" while producing logs was, in itself, a high priority operation.
Follow the logging and the lumberjacks' world as he moved from camp to camp. This book provides
detailed chronological and geographical record of 185 Potlatch logging camps from 1903 to 1986.
Over 400 photographs, mostly from private collections, provide an outstanding record of people, places
and events of Potlatch's logging operations.
About the Author
Tom Farbo was born in Pennsylvania. He served over two years in the U.S. Air Force during
World War II. A Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Forest Management from Michigan Tech was
granted in 1953. His career was with the U.S. Forest Service: Kootenai National Forest in Libby,
Montana - 1953-2962; Deerlodge National Forest in Butte Montana - 1961-64; Clearwater National
Forest in Orofino, Idaho - 1964-1981.
An interest in history, specifically logging history, prompted this seven-year effort. Tom lives in
Orofino, Idaho with his wife Ruth.
White Pine, Wobblies and Wannigans is available from Tom Farbo,
Box 1297, Orofino, ID 83544.
