The Forestry people were the first ones hired. They started to arrive during the spring and summer of 1955. It was up to them to find suitable timber for the first logging camps, to cruise it and lay out cut-blocks and new roads. Once that was under way, then they had to do the aerial photography, mapping, forest-cover-type mapping, and put together the first forest management plan. It was a very busy time. Everything had to start at once.

The 55ers, as they became known, also pioneered the transformation of Hinton from a hamlet of about 200 to the town of over 2,000 that it became in the next few years. Living in makeshift housing, they endured one of the coldest winters on record - an estimated -70° F (-57° C) one February night at the river. They suffered from frozen water and sewer lines, power shortages and grossly inadequate heaters.

They were well chosen for their abilities to contribute to forest management, silviculture and logging. They and their successors have been characterized by their qualities of vision, ingenuity, spirit and dedication. Some of the early staff are shown here, but it is clear that we need help to collect more photographs of this era - can you help?

Among the first to arrive were the timber cruisers - looking for places to set up the first logging camps. They were a hardy bunch, mostly walking and living in tents year -round. This crew included (l to r) Bob MacKellar, Ken Casey, Ed Wiedeman, Ozzie Hanson and Jim Clark in a late season snowstorm. The 55ers were among the first arrivals who survived the long cold winter of 1955-56. Can you name them? Answer posted below.

• History of Weldwood's Hinton Division Overview
• The Beginning- A discussion on the start up of operations in the Hinton area and the men who started it all.
• Some of the Pioneers- The forestry people were some of the first hired. This section talks about the early pioneers, and contains numerous photos.
• Early Forest Management- An explanation of forest management in the early years with some interesting photographs of early transportation methods including Volkswagen "Bugs" and Tote-Goats.
• Logging: Camps to Commuting- This section discusses the transition from men working out of logging camps to the time when housing and roads improved and loggers began to live in the community and commute to work.
• Logging: Horses to Horsepower- In 1967 the Company changed from primarily a horse logging operation to one using diesel engine powered skidders.
• Early Forest Renewal- A look at early forest renewal including the first forest industry greenhouse in 1965

Hinton Web Design would like to thank Aaron Jones at  Weldwood & Hinton Forest Resources for the use of this information
Please visit their Website for more information on this and other areas of Weldwood

Hinton Forest Resources