Coquille in Coos County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
Spruce Soldiers
Because of its light weight, flexibility and strength, Sitka spruce was the wood of choice. Sitka spruce, thrives in the “fog belt” of the Pacific Coast from Northern California to Kodiak, Alaska. Only Oregon and Washington, however, provided trees of sufficient size and abundance for the production of aero-lumber.
During the 1900s, the average spruce tree in this region exceeded 4 feet in diameter and 160 feet in height. Within the first six months of the war, the Spruce Production Division was organized, under the command of Brig. Gen. B. P. Disque, to increase lumber production. Gen. Disque recruited 27,661 enlisted men and 1,222 officers from the U.S. Army, and after brief muster at Ft. Vancouver, Washington, “spruce soldiers” joined civilians to work for private companies in logging camps and sawmills.
In 1918, the Sitka Spruce Company operated a sawmill at this site with soldiers of the 103rd Spruce Squadron. Fifty-two enlisted men and two officers occupied a two-story barracks on these grounds and worked around the clock to fill a government order for 1,000,000 board-feet of aero-lumber.
The war ended in November 11, 1918, and the Spruce Production Division quickly disbanded. In less than two years however, the “spruce soldiers” increased lumber production by 300%, as nearly 10,000,000 board-feet left the Pacific Northwest each month.
Erected by Oregon Travel Information Council and City of Coquille.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Oregon Beaver Boards series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 11, 1918.
Location. 43° 10.504′ N, 124° 11.885′ W. Marker is in Coquille, Oregon, in Coos County. Marker is on Coquille-Bandon Hwy (Oregon Route 425) south of Coos Bay-Roseburg Highway (Oregon Route 42) when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Coquille OR 97423, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Haldane "Buzz" Holmstrom (within shouting distance of this marker); Coos Bay Waters to Coquille Waters Trail (approx. 6 miles away); Judah Parker County Park (approx. 7.7 miles away); Steam Engine No. 104 (approx. 12.9 miles away); Caboose No. 1134 (approx. 12.9 miles away); Caboose No. 11269 (approx. 12.9 miles away); Transportation (approx. 13.3 miles away); a different marker also named Transportation (approx. 13.3 miles away).
More about this marker. Marker is located next to a welcome sign to Sturdivant Park, the former site of the Sitka Spruce Company sawmill.
Also see . . . The U.S. Army Spruce Squadrons in the First World War. A good resource of information regarding the "spruce soldiers" and includes links to historical photos. (Submitted on July 22, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 322 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 22, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.