Camp 19 Loggers

Four men pose on logs on Oshkosh creek above Camp 19. Booth-Kelly camp 19 was located at the end of a railroad spur that ran for a little over a mile up Oshkosh creek from its confluence with Mill creek. it was steep country and the logs were pulled down to roughly creek level and then pulled to the railroad terminus just above camp. The camp itself was built on stilts directly over Oshkosh creek itself.

The four men may include relatives of the Rathbun family as the photograph originally belonged to Jessie Rathbun of Wendling. She also had numerous pictures of Fred Shepard, Jr. so it is possible he is one of the men.

The rigging in the picture is obscured by brush at the junction. It appears that the mainline cable is to the right. A choker cable is attached via a smaller cable and chain to the mainline cable, as well as second smaller cable that runs up and to the left. This is most likely the haul back cable, which would have run to a block/pulley up the hills to the left, and was used to bring the mainline cable and choker back to the men after pulling in the log.

If you can identify any of the men in this picture, please comment.

 

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