Logging and Lumbering in the Rice Lake Area

Logging and Lumbering in the Rice Lake Area. A Chronology. , 1831 , Henry Schoolcraft, Indian agent from Sault St. Marie, MI travels down the Red Cedar River to Rice Lake and held council with the Chippewa Indians at this approximate site., 1847 , The Knapp Stout Co. purchased thousands of acres of Northern Wisconsin virgin pine. This purchase ushered in the logging era. , 1863 , John H. Knapp, Henry L Stout, Andrew Tainter, and William Wilson purchase the property where you are now standing. This became the lumbering hub of northern Wisconsin., 1864 , The first dam was built at the present location in Rice Lake., 1868 , The Knapp Stout General Store was relocated from Louseburg to approximate site of the Rice Lake Regional Airport., 1871 , Knapp Stout Company builds a small saw mill (with one single up and down saw) north of the present dam. The output for this mill was used locally., 1880 , The Knapp Stout Company was known as the largest lumber corporation in the world., 1882 , The rail lines reach Rice Lake bringing more people and allowing more logs to be shipped in and lumber to be shipped out. This was the biggest boom time for the area to this point., 1887 , The Rice Lake Lumber Company began operation in Rice Lake. The Mill was large, utilizing the most modern technology of that time. It was owned by Orrin Ingram of Eau Claire and was constructed ¼ mile southeast of the present dam. It continued to coexist with Knapp Stout until 1901. The building on the Northeast corner of Main and Allen Street was constructed as the headquarters. It still serves local businesses.