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A Crook County Historical Moment
| Prineville Planing Mill Provided Finished Lumber for Many Early Homes |
Lumber mills were among the first industrial
operations in Central Oregon. Mostly rough cut lumber
was produced at small mills for construction purposes.
As early as 1878 attempts were made to establish a
planing mill in Prineville and included construction of a
water ditch to power a planing mill. The mill was
located on Third and Claypool and had a series of
owners until 1898.
Ed Harbin partnered with John B. Shipp in the
operation and sold out to Shipp in 1898. By 1900 the
planning mill was one of the most prominent
manufacturing industries of Crook County. The plant
produced most of the planed lumber for buildings in
Prineville for a few years.
The mill had a capacity of 15,000 feet of finished lumber and 10,000 sawed shingles per day. The
best sawed shingles retailed at $3.00 per thousand at the mill, and finished lumber sold for $15.00
to $25.00 per thousand. The mill produced moldings, sash and wood turning for most ordinary
building construction.
In 1905 Shipp partnered with Gardner Perry and built a new planing mill at 4th and Fairview near
the present Prineville Swimming Pool. The new plant was steam operated and a 50 horse-power
engine was installed. Shipp & Perry added a dry kiln to their operation in 1910. Lumber was off
loaded at the kiln and processed through the heated kiln where it was dried before going to the
planing mill. The mill had a work force of ten men.
Shipp & Perry operated the mill until 1919 when they sold it to Tum-A-Lum Lumber Company.
Shipp was retained as a manager of the operation for a few years and the operation expanded.
Eventually the mill was moved but it was the pioneer planing operation in Central Oregon.
best sawed shingles retailed at $3.00 per thousand at the mill, and finished lumber sold for $15.00
to $25.00 per thousand. The mill produced moldings, sash and wood turning for most ordinary
building construction.
In 1905 Shipp partnered with Gardner Perry and built a new planing mill at 4th and Fairview near
the present Prineville Swimming Pool. The new plant was steam operated and a 50 horse-power
engine was installed. Shipp & Perry added a dry kiln to their operation in 1910. Lumber was off
loaded at the kiln and processed through the heated kiln where it was dried before going to the
planing mill. The mill had a work force of ten men.
Shipp & Perry operated the mill until 1919 when they sold it to Tum-A-Lum Lumber Company.
Shipp was retained as a manager of the operation for a few years and the operation expanded.
Eventually the mill was moved but it was the pioneer planing operation in Central Oregon.
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A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum
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See the drop
down menu at
the top of the
page for more
local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
down menu at
the top of the
page for more
local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
Use the drop down menu for more local stories of Prineville's colorful past.