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Grand Opening of New

Northwestern Lumber Company

The Stanley Area Historical Society is very excited about our newest display constructed in our South Hall. It tells the history of the Northwestern Lumber Company, the most important business to ever operate in Stanley.

The beginning of this huge enterprise began in 1890 with the clearing of land to the NW of our present downtown area of Stanley. First a dam had to be built on the Wolf River to provide a needed pond for a lumber mill, and later become Chapman Lake. Then followed the construction of many buildings needed to creat a mill that empoyed hundreds of people.

The public is invited to learn more about this important part of our history by spending time looking at dozens of photos, many unseen before this time, and learning of the history through signage.

When viewing the display, you will learn about the entire operation of the huge mill, from begging to end and after. Also, you will learn about Porter Mills, the hot pond, the Red Row Houses, the water boy, the company store and the steam engine that could pull 16 loads of logs through the woods without a railroad track. You will learn about the S.M. & P Railroad that began in Stanley and traveled north as far as Wallrath carrying both logs and people

And to much more.

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