Crannell Humboldt County Little River Redwood Company Order Status 1940s Real Photo Postcard

This vintage postcard captures a bustling logging operation, likely dating from the late 19th or early 20th century, a period defined by extensive timber extraction. The river is densely packed with felled timber, characteristic of a "log drive" or "river drive," a primary and often hazardous method for transporting logs from remote forest camps to downstream sawmills before the widespread adoption of logging railroads and trucking. Structures on the bank, likely part of a lumber camp or staging area, support the riverside operations, with figures visible amidst piles of logs.

This industrial scene reflects the significant economic activity and profound environmental transformation driven by the timber industry during the era of rapid industrialization. The visible sawmill in the distance, marked by its smoke, and what appears to be a logging locomotive, illustrate the integrated process from raw material extraction to initial processing. Such operations were vital to regional economies, supplying essential lumber for construction, infrastructure, and fuel across a rapidly developing nation.