Life in a Company Town

The town kept time to the rhythm of the mill. Potlatch residents slept in company houses, attended company schools, walked on company sidewalks, kept company yards, and shopped in the company store.

One of the major characteristics distinguishing Potlatch from its neighbors was the impermanence of its population. Many of Potlatch's bachelors were typical lumber trade drifters who seldom spent much time at any one place. Others were frustrated with poor housing and the inability to move up. Some disliked Potlatch's working conditions, while others moved on when work was slow. And some left because they were uncomfortable with Potlatch's social stratification. Although Potlatch's was not a heavy-handed oppression, those on its lower social rungs knew a division existed between classes.

Several other things about Potlatch distinguished it from similar-sized communities. In Potlatch household incomes were almost exclusively earned by men. Women and children only rarely worked outside the home, since there was little opportunity for them at the mill and the town had few other employers. Potlatch's women were primarily childraisers and housekeepers. Also, there were few old people or widows there. If a man died or became too ill or disabled to work, the family was asked to leave in order to open up housing for employees. Similarly, the company forced retirees to leave.

The company's tight control over the community prevented much of the crime frequently associated with lumber centers. There were few disruptions to the moral atmosphere the company attempted to maintain. All in all, life in Potlatch was secure, consistent, and safe; it was a lifestyle good for some and not so good for others. The difference was largely dependent upon a person's nationality, income, and marital status.

Seen from Allison Laird's perspective, requirements for Potlatch residency were simple: cleanliness, neatness, orderliness, and keeping rent, utility, and Merc bills paid. The company periodically issued rules and regulations, and residents who disobeyed were evicted.

Most of the time company managers not only permitted but also encouraged public gatherings, and Potlatch had a diverse array of civic and social organizations. The list of clubs was so lengthy that it seems unlikely anyone could have gone without joining something. The town's earliest clubs spun off its three churches. Numerous other local or national fraternal organizations followed. During the day many Potlatch women participated in an intricate social network. In the evenings Potlatch came alive for both men and women. In the early days when the mill closed only on Sundays, weekend activities centered around the churches. Later, when workers had both Saturdays and Sundays free other social events gained in popularity. A company-wide picnic was for decades an annual summer highlight. Activities, both formal and informal, organized and spontaneous, were many and diverse, and there was generally something for everyone.