Near Mercer in Iron County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Roddis Line - Roddis Lumber and Veneer Company
Iron County Heritage Area
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, August 14, 2012
1. Roddis Line - Roddis Lumber and Veneer Company Marker
In 1903, he purchased a parcel of land to build a mill in Park Falls. Roddis bought 35,000 acres of timber land in Iron and Ashland counties from Wisconsin Central Railroad (later the Soo Line).
The railroad agreed to build an extension of its line east of Park Falls. Roddis built narrow gauge spur tracks from the main line into the woods with Wisconsin Central rails. By the end of operations, Roddis company had laid 49 miles of track.
For the first 22 years of operation, the Roddis Lumber and Veneer Company ran the logging camps. Each year a headquarters camp was established along the main rail line. This camp housed the woods foreman and was the main loading point for logs shipped to the mill.
Smaller camps were placed along the spurs. By 1904, there were eight camps working full time in the woods. Locomotives made daily trips to the mill in Park Falls, loaded with timber. By 1930, the camps were shipping 35 rail cars of timber daily.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.
Location. 46° 4.914′ N, 90° 16.263′ W. Marker
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Roddis Line – Early Logging (here, next to this marker); Roddis Line – Life in Camp (here, next to this marker); Roddis Line – Nelson Camp 1 (1925-1930) (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Roddis Line - Roddis Lumber and Veneer Company (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Roddis Line – Nelson Camp 1 (1925-1930) (here, next to this marker); Flambeau Trail – Turtle Flambeau Flowage Dam (approx. 1.7 miles away); Roddis Line – Turtle-Flambeau Dam (approx. 1.8 miles away); Flambeau Trail – Two Ways to Go (approx. 7.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mercer.
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, August 14, 2012
2. Upper Left Photo: William Henry Roddis
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, August 14, 2012
3. Lower Left Photo: Logging Camp
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, August 14, 2012
4. Upper Right Photo: Laying Track
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, August 14, 2012
5. Roddis Line - Roddis Lumber and Veneer Company Marker
Marker is on a six-sided kiosk with five other adjoining markers.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,096 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 14, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
