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“Laurel River L[um]b[e]r. Co.–Madison County.”

Runion, Madison County, North Carolina, [ca. 1910]. 7 original photographs, including 6 bromide prints and 1 silver print, “5 x 7” to 7” x 9”, on paperboard mounts, 7” x 9” to 8” x 10”. All captioned in pencil on verso, “Laurel River Lbr. Co.–Madison County.”.

A group of seven photos of the Laurel River Logging Co. operation in western North Carolina during the early 1900s

This evocative group of images document a splash dam with a waterfall; a throng of loggers; a wood mill; the interior of a pulp mill; a trestle framework; employees posing with horses; as well as Laurel River Logging Co.’s office. Located in Runion, North Carolina (named after the postal carrier Paddlefoot Runion), Laurel River Logging Co. was incorporated in 1909 and dissolved in 1920 due to the Great Flood of 1916 and other causes. The company was owned and operated by Amos Stackhouse and other shareholders. Madison County Railway Co. continued the railroad track construction begun by company workers in 1910 after acquiring Laurel River Logging Co.’s assets, abandoning the line in 1926. Once a company town of some 1000 employees with a school and a church, Runion is now a ghost town. The town was also known as Putnam after Charles W. Putnam, who leased land from Amos Stackhouse.

Contents of group:

Image showing some forty-five employees posing in front of a rough board building, one man holds a two-man crosscut saw; most wear overalls or suspenders, work boots, and hats, and some wear aprons. CONDITION: Strong tonality at center, fading across top and along right side, light curve, light wear at extremities of mount.

[with]

A busy image of a trestle framework with wires surrounding two buildings; signs on the two story structure read “Official Madison County Railway Co.” and Office: Laurel River Logging Co.” another building and an outhouse are perched on the hill above, Railroad tracks in the bottom right corner appear to be only partially built; scaffolding can be seen on the side of the building. CONDITION: Strong tonality, light curve, light wear at extremities of mount.

[with]

Image of the company plant on the river; a waterfall rushes over a tiered splash dam, logs spill over and are strewn about the river; a hillside in right foreground is covered with boards, in the background, a cluster of four mill buildings and pulp mill with smoke stacks, steam rising. CONDITION: Strong tonality, light curve, light wear at extremities of mount.

[with]

Image of workmen loading a cart of wooden boards apparently milled in the white two story building; on the left is a slide connecting another building, also piles of boards, on the right the Laurel River. CONDITION: Strong tonality, light curve, light wear at extremities of mount.

[with]

An image of eight loggers in front of a building, holding eight pairs of harnessed horses; three workers peer out of the windows. CONDITION: Strong tonality, light curve, light wear at extremities of mount.

[with]

A view from an elevated vantage point of the lumber and pulp mill nestled along the river with a hill in the background; ramps in the foreground leading to buildings. CONDITION: Strong tonality at center, top left edge sunned, light curve.

[with]

Image of the interior of the Laurel River mill, with wheels and rollers, cement bases, steam pipes, wooden framework, and corrugated metal siding. CONDITION: Strong tonality at center, light curve.

REFERENCES: Metzger, Harrison. House Has a Part in River’s History at blueridgenow.com; 1913 Laurel River Logging Company Runion, North Carolina Ghost Town Historic at worthpoint.com

Item #5763

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