TOPSY LUMBER COMPANY
Topsy
March 5, 1923: "Jack Monroe drove in from the Topsy lumber company mill yesterday to purchase supplies. He states that Kesterson brothers are improving their mill to such an extent that they hope to be able to cut 60,000 feet daily. They anticipate opening up operations about April first." (The Evening Herald)
October 29, 1923: "George H. Kesterson and Irving E. Kesterson of Topsy arrived in Klamath Falls late last night and returned to their mill early this morning. They are operating a mill near the top of Topsy grade." (The Evening Herald)
January 3, 1925: "With the recent purchase of 100,000,000 feet of pine timber, the Topsy Lumber company, owned by I.E. Kesterson of Grants Pass, now has sufficient timber to operate for ten years to come, it became known today.
The company recently purchased a tract of timber including 70,000,000 feet of timber from the Oshkosh Timber company and another tract of 30,000,000 feet from the Long Bell Lumber company.
It has been known for some time that the Topsy Lumber company was short on timber for manufacture. For several months the company contemplated the purchase of the Saddle Mountain Lumber company, at the present terminus of the O. C. & E. railroad, from the First States Savings bank, defunct. While the deal has not definitely been dropped, negotiations at this time are at a standstill.
The Topsy Lumber company mill is recognized as one of the finest small plants in Klamath. In 1923 it was officially recognized at the best of the smaller mills." (The Evening Herald)
The company recently purchased a tract of timber including 70,000,000 feet of timber from the Oshkosh Timber company and another tract of 30,000,000 feet from the Long Bell Lumber company.
It has been known for some time that the Topsy Lumber company was short on timber for manufacture. For several months the company contemplated the purchase of the Saddle Mountain Lumber company, at the present terminus of the O. C. & E. railroad, from the First States Savings bank, defunct. While the deal has not definitely been dropped, negotiations at this time are at a standstill.
The Topsy Lumber company mill is recognized as one of the finest small plants in Klamath. In 1923 it was officially recognized at the best of the smaller mills." (The Evening Herald)
February 11, 1925: "The Topsy Lumber company, now commanding a tract of timber aggregating 130,000,000 feet, are preparing their logging camp in order to start cutting the timber as soon as possible. I.E. Kesterson, owner, recently purchased 100,000,000 feet of timber from William Bray. Thirty million feet were purchased from the Long Bell Lumber company." (The Evening Herald)
February 26, 1925: "Mr. and Mrs. Irving Kesterson of 'Topsy' from the Topsy Lumber company are in the city to spend the week-end transacting business and visiting. Kesterson is manager of the plant." (The Evening Herald)
March 12, 1925: "Within the next few days, the crash of falling timber will be a familiar sound in the vicinity of the Topsy Lumber company, on Topsy grade, for two logging camps of the I. E. Kesterson concern will be operating full time.
O.V. Myers of Medford, logging contractor and lumber hauler, will conduct one of the Topsy camps under contract. It is expected that he will fall in the neighborhood of five million feet for the Topsy company. In addition to the logging contract, Mr. Myers has a lumber hauling contract for 12 million feet.
The lumber from the mill would be hauled to Dorris where it would be delivered to the Associated Box factory which would manufacture the lumber into box shook." (The Evening Herald)
O.V. Myers of Medford, logging contractor and lumber hauler, will conduct one of the Topsy camps under contract. It is expected that he will fall in the neighborhood of five million feet for the Topsy company. In addition to the logging contract, Mr. Myers has a lumber hauling contract for 12 million feet.
The lumber from the mill would be hauled to Dorris where it would be delivered to the Associated Box factory which would manufacture the lumber into box shook." (The Evening Herald)
March 25, 1925: "According to A.P. Heup of the Topsy Lumber company of which he is its foreman, the lumber market is in splendid condition in comparison with the slump of last year. Heup is in the city for several days visiting with friends and staying at the White Pelican hotel." (The Evening Herald)
March 30, 1925: "George Jenson, formerly with the Standard Lumber company at McDoel, will set for the Topsy Lumber company when that company commences operations, which will be shortly after the first." (The Evening Herald)
April 6, 1925: "Charlie Shaptaw, who will file for the Topsy Lumber company this season, arrived Thursday evening from Louisiana. Shaptaw made a trip to Chiloquin Friday to visit friends working for the Chiloquin Lumber company." (The Evening Herald)
April 6, 1925: "The sawmill of the Topsy Lumber company started up for the season's run this morning. The Topsy mill is the best circular mill in southern Oregon or Northern California, being equipped with a sixty inch bottom saw, a fifty four inch top saw, and the carriage is equipped with Trout set works.
Later in the season the Topsy company plans to start the construction of a modern eight foot band mill, located at Grenada Flat, about two miles from the present mill site." (The Evening Herald)
Later in the season the Topsy company plans to start the construction of a modern eight foot band mill, located at Grenada Flat, about two miles from the present mill site." (The Evening Herald)
August 7, 1925: "Dr. G.S. Newsom of the Klamath county public health unit made an inspection Wednesday of the Topsy mill Co.'s plant, looking into the water supply and general sanitary conditions.
One case only of typhoid was reported from the Topsy mill, one of the employes having been treated for typhoid in the hospital at Dorris, California.
'Inasmuch as the mill plant has a community water supply could be contaminated with typhoid germs, and only one case developed out of about 200 people using the same water,' Dr. Newsom said today. 'Samples of the water have been sent to the Oregon State Board of Health Laboratory for analysis.' " (The Evening Herald)
One case only of typhoid was reported from the Topsy mill, one of the employes having been treated for typhoid in the hospital at Dorris, California.
'Inasmuch as the mill plant has a community water supply could be contaminated with typhoid germs, and only one case developed out of about 200 people using the same water,' Dr. Newsom said today. 'Samples of the water have been sent to the Oregon State Board of Health Laboratory for analysis.' " (The Evening Herald)
August 12, 1925: "Art Collett, who has been gypo-ing for the Topsy Lumber company is now resting in Klamath Falls, having completed his contract." (The Evening Herald)
August 19, 1925: "With practically all timber logged off near the present site, of the Topsy Lumber company, plans are under way to acquire a new site approximately six miles east from the present one.
Plans now under way also contemplate the erection of a new mill with a greater capacity.
Drillers are now at work endeavoring to secure a water supply at the new camp site, adequate to supply all needs.
The Topsy Lumber company, owned and operated by the Kestersons, has now approximately five million feet of lumber in the yards and so far this season has shipped but very little.
The mill has this season been averaging about 68,000 feet per day, and increase of about 4,000 feet over last year's record." (The Evening Herald)
Plans now under way also contemplate the erection of a new mill with a greater capacity.
Drillers are now at work endeavoring to secure a water supply at the new camp site, adequate to supply all needs.
The Topsy Lumber company, owned and operated by the Kestersons, has now approximately five million feet of lumber in the yards and so far this season has shipped but very little.
The mill has this season been averaging about 68,000 feet per day, and increase of about 4,000 feet over last year's record." (The Evening Herald)
August 1925: "Topsy Lumber Co., Topsy (postoffice Dorris, Cal.), is cutting 35,000 feet daily, shipping the pine to the Associated Box Co., Doris. The fir goes to the retail yards in Klamath Falls. Irving Kesterson is owner and manager of this plant." (The Timberman)
October 7, 1925: "The mill of the Topsy Lumber company, owned by the Kestersons, will be moved to Dorris, California, this fall. The new location is about eight miles from the present site of the mill. The company has about 35,000,000 feet of timber in what is known as the Vanata tract." (The Evening Herald)
At the end of 1925, beginning of 1926: The Topsy Lumber Company sawmill moved to Dorris, California.
March 6, 1935: "Within the next few days the crash of falling timber will be a familiar sound in the vicinity of the Topsy Lumber company on Topsy grade, for two logging camps of the I.E. Kesterson concern will soon be operating full force." (The Evening Herald)