LOGGING CAMPS

When the town of Potlatch was first settled at the beginning of the 20th century, the homes resembled dirt dugouts. The homes were dug into the sides of hills Following, small log cabins that were poorly constructed with dirt floors. Bachelors had the smallest.

In 1905, ad posted for 500 men needed in the Potlatch area. Ideal labor sought was family men that were provided with family housing. However, bachelors were hired. Within the town of Potlatch, they were provided with boardinghouses.

Out within the forests were stationed several logging camps in which men lived while working that area. Some camps were large enough to have their own schools, while others were so small there were often under ten men living there.

Women employees in the camps worked as assistants to the cooks, as well as performed odd jobs like ringing the bell to signal the time. Men that were not loggers were employed as cooks, dishwashers,

Depending on the camp and the proximity to nearby towns, some residents kept a lively social life. Kate Waldron, one time residing in Camp 8, would often travel to downtown Bovill to shop and be entertained.

Philip Asplund, a former logger, noted that without proper entertainment, men would play cards or share tall tales.

The housing of each camp depended on the popularity and amount of residents. Most camps provided bunk houses for the men, with tiered bunks set so close together one had to enter a bed feet first. The bunks were bare as men were expected to bring their own mattresses, a rolled-up bed spread called a

Many camps offered crude housing referred to as "shacks;" small, two room log cabins with dirt floors. For larger camps especially, women and families would occupy the structured homes while bachelors would stay in either tents or, at times, just sleep outside. Other camps were referred to as "car camps," as the housing they offered were converted railroad cars.

Every camp had a kitchen and a mess hall.

Charles Phipps, an Idaho logger from the later 1970's to the early 1980's, lived in a logging camp near McCall. The men lived in camping trailers and in close quarters. The work days were long and dangerous, but he said ultimately rewarding.

Life in the camp itself was uneventful. "It was a bunch of guys living together," he said. For entertainment, they would often play games or simply talk.