The Lumber Company in Old Western Towns

In the fast-growing West, lumber companies became an important business and building supplies in high demand. Most Western Towns had a place to buy lumber, and some had other related businesses, such as shingle and siding companies, as well. 

This was also true in 1880 Town in Midland, South Dakota, which I've been sharing with you since our trip there. Since the largest part of a lumber company was the wood stacked outside, the most prominent building housing wood supplies in this town was the shingle and siding company. Of course, there were a general store, hardware store, and other places to buy some building supplies as well. 

I also have connections to the lumber industry. My paternal grandfather owned a sawmill in the Appalachian Mountains, and my father worked for him growing up. Later, His older brother bought it, and Dad worked with him for a while. In my novel, Noah's New Bride, Noah Elder is a lumberjack in Oregon. But near the end of the book, he retires from that rugged life to become the owner and operator of a lumber company -- still related to the lumber industry but more conducive to a man with a family. 

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