St. Croix 360

River stories to inspire stewardship.

  • Share News
  • Event Calendar
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Support

Celebrating the ‘Last Log’ 100 Years Later

Event on June 12th will remember the end of an important era on the St. Croix.

By Greg Seitz | May 31, 2014 | 2 minute read

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print
  • More
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Telegram
Last day at the St. Croix Boom

Last day at the St. Croix Boom (John Runk, courtesy MN Historical Society)

At just half past two o’clock, Friday afternoon, June 12, 1914, the last log passed through the sorting works of the St. Croix Boom Company. Captain W. F. McGray, who hitched the first log that passed through the works in the year 1856, who was employed by the Boom Company for fifty years, during the majority of which he was the efficient superintendent of the works, having at times four to five hundred men under him, also hitched the last log.

– Stillwater Gazette, June 17, 1914

The logging era in the St. Croix River region looms large today. The lumber mills, mansions, dams and camps are well-known landmarks. Stories of this industry and its impacts, from the wannigans to the great fires, are some of the most enduring in the region.

Logging in fact lasted a relatively brief span of time – so short that the same man rode the first and last logs that passed through the St. Croix Boom north of Stillwater. But its impacts are felt today, a century after it effectively ended. At its peak, the logs covered nine miles of the river upstream. All told, it handled more than 15.5 billion feet of trees, mostly white pine.

“The St. Croix Boom Site was the earliest, most important, and longest-lived of the major log storage and handling areas in Minnesota,” writes Dave Thorson of Down to Earth Tours in a recent article. “From its opening in 1856 and until 1914, the St. Croix Boom served as the terminal point for the great Minnesota log drives down the St. Croix River and its tributaries.”

Each year for almost six decades, millions of logs were stored, sorted, scaled, measured, and their ownership determined. Then, “fitting-up crews” would form the logs into rafts and send them down the river to the mills at Stillwater.

The final log passed through the St. Croix Boom at 2:30 p.m. on June 12, 1914. An event next week will commemorate this influential era on the 100th anniversary of its culmination.

The event, organized by Washington County Historical Society, St. Croix River Association, and Friends of the St. Croix Boom Site, and promoted by Down to Earth Tours, will feature speakers and festivities:

A celebration of this centennial will be observed at the Boomsite Wayside on June 12, 2.75 miles north of the stoplight in Stillwater on Highway 95. The program starts at 2:30. Public participation in this historic remembrance and centennial celebration is encouraged. Come early and enjoy the festivities with other lovers of history, the St Croix River, and its watershed.

Speakers include:

  • Marc Hugunin, Friends of the Boomsite
  • David Grabitske , Minnesota Historical Society
  • Chris Stein, National Park Service
  • Erika Rivers, Minnesota DNR
  • Danette Olson, Representing the National Heritage Area Initiative

RSVP by June 6, 2014 – info@scramail.com

Related articles:

Follow

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Features

Two inches and 6,000 gallons: A swollen century on the St. Croix River

Cold comfort

New preserve will let students, community, and anglers experience the Kinnickinnic River

St. Croix 360 is now 100% supported by readers.

Click here to contribute →

 

Latest News

Progress reported on effort to establish National Heritage Area for St. Croix River region

Afton State Park Phenology Feb. 19 to March 4, 2021

Spring is coming: Officials provide first St. Croix River flood forecast of season

Tax dollars work for water: Legacy Amendment funds will help protect St. Croix River

Watch: A guy’s goats keep him company while he swims the icy St. Croix

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

About

St. Croix 360 builds support for river stewardship, and connects people and organizations. It is an independent news source produced by Greg Seitz, with past support from the St. Croix River Association.

Donate to St. Croix 360 today »

Story of 360

One of the biggest challenges facing the St. Croix River is harmful blooms of algae in in the lower river, due to excess nutrients in runoff. The goal is to restore the river by reducing phosphorus levels to 360 tons/year. Learn more »

Share Your News

St. Croix 360 is powered by a broad community of St. Croix River-loving people. Please visit our submission page to send tips, press releases, and other news.

Submit an Event

Lower St. Croix: St. Croix 360 partners with online calendar St. Croix Splash.

  • Submit your events to Splash.
  • Share it with St. Croix 360 for promotion.

For events elsewhere in the watershed, contact St. Croix 360 directly.

St. Croix 360 Syndication

To help increase awareness of the St. Croix River, news organizations and other outlets are free to share St. Croix 360 content, as long as you follow a few simple rules.

Republish St. Croix 360 stories »

Partners

  • St. Croix River Association
  • St. Croix Watershed Research Station
  • ArtReach St. Croix
  • You and all St. Croix 360's readers!
Handcrafted in May Township, Minnesota. Please contribute today »
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.