1910 Postcard Logging Rollway Mason County Washington

Log Train at Rollway

Log Train at Rollway Mason County Washington

by Mary Katherine May

of QualityMusicandBooks.com

Here is a great postcard mailed on November 22, 1910, from Dewatto, Washington.  There are two interests going on with this postcard, both subjects which have been perennial favorites among deltiological collectors.  The subject matter is (1) trains, and (2) logging.

Log Train at Rollway, Mason County, Washington

Postmarked Dewatto, Washington, 22 November 1910

     On the post card back, upper left, we are told that this is a Journal Post Card, Shelton, Wash.  It is a comfortable assumption to make that the post card was printed/published by the local Mason County Journal, a weekly publication coming out of Shelton, Washington.  Notice how the American flag is wrapped around the flag pole.  I also notice how few large diameter logs are on each flatbed, and since I know very little about the transport of logs by train, I cannot assume that it was possible to pile them as high as was done on the wagons that would bring the hewn logs out of the woods.

Reading (scroll down the link page) about Mason County, Washington, and the logging industry, I learned that after the Panic of 1893 great effort was taken to put loggers back to work, and that the advent of steam locomotives in this area helped both the logging industry as well as aided in clearing land for agriculture. 

FreeDictionary.com defines what a rollway is: an incline down which logs are rolled for transportation.

In regard to real photo postcards, the image on this post card is not a RPPH.  If you look closely, you will see that the image is comprised tiny dots which a type of printing called halftone.

DEWATTO, WASH.

November 21, 1910. Dear Miss Howard...

     Even more interesting is that the writer of this particular post card gives us a first hand account, although, brief of her message may be,  of what it was like to view logs being floated down river and on the train.  Also of interest is the writer's manner of addressing the recipient, as Dear Miss Howard.  Was this a teacher writing to a student?  or, simply a person observing a formality?

Nov 21 --10

Dewatto

Dear Miss Howard,

received your nice letter and card will write soon.  I wish you could have been here and saw the logs go down the river yesterday.  The river is rageing the logs is most all on the flats above Simoneau's now wishing you a happy Thanksgiving

I remain

Sincerely

D. Cunningham