Bicknell in Wayne County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Logging and Lumber Industry

Photographed by James Hulse, April 4, 2025

1. Logging and Lumber Industry Marker

Inscription. In the mid-1920s, spruce beetles infested most of the Boulder Mountain. Large stands of Engelmann Spruce died, but the trees remained standing and the wood seasoned and dried. Residents recognized its potential for use in making lumber and mine timbers for the mines of Carbon and Emery Counties. Sawmills in Bicknell and Wayne County cut and shipped thousands of truckloads of lumber to Salt Lake City and California and mine timbers (like these) to Emery & Carbon County coal mines. There have been at least six sawmills in Bicknell with more in the surrounding communities and mountains. The saw blade at this Memorial is one used at the Torgerson/Rees Sawmill. Loggers made their own roads on the mountains to get to the timber.

Originally, trees were cut using two-man crosscut saws. Later, chain saws replaced the two-man saws. While one logger sawed trees, another handled the work horses and heavy equipment, dragging trees to a loading area where they were trimmed. Eventually green spruce trees were also logged and trees were cut on the Fish Lake and Thousand Lake Mountains.

Captions
(Photo #1) Richard "Dick Taylor (on left), Sherwood Albrecht (on the truck) and Stanley Wylie (on right)
(Photo #2) Torval Albrecht (driving), Cart Albrecht and Steve Albrecht (boys on the back) "Moving logs at Torval's sawmill"
(Photo #3) John Larsen with new truck
(Photo #4) Carl Albrecht and Steve Albrecht standing next to a load of logs
(Photo #5) Hauling logs and props
(Photo #6) Current Torgerson sawmill
(Photo #7) Torgersens logging on Boulder Mountain

Erected 2020

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by Bicknell Town.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 38° 20.443′ N, 111° 33.072′ W. Marker is in Bicknell, Utah, in Wayne County. It is at the intersection of West Main Street (Utah Route 24) and S 400 W, on the left when traveling west on West Main Street. The marker is located at the Bicknell Veterans & Heritage Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 385 W Main St, Bicknell UT 84715, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Canyon Country.

It is also in the American Mountain West,

on the Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Raising Livestock (here, next to this marker); Early Roads and Wagons (a few steps from this marker); Early LDS Church Influence and A.K. Thurber

Logging and Lumber Industry Marker (left side) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 4, 2025

2. Logging and Lumber Industry Marker (left side)

(a few steps from this marker); Bicknell Town History (a few steps from this marker); Bicknell Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Major Bicknell Livelihoods (a few steps from this marker); Culinary and Irrigation Water (a few steps from this marker); Women and Education (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bicknell.

The view of the marker from the entrance to the memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 4, 2025

3. The view of the marker from the entrance to the memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 118 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 4, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.