Postcard History: Stearns Salt & Lumber Company, Ludington MI, 1910s

The Stearns Salt and Lumber Company, a prominent figure in the 19th-century lumber industry, played a significant role in shaping the economic landscape of the Great Lakes region. Founded by Justus S. Stearns, the company’s operations were centered in Ludington MI, and extended into the vast forests of the Upper Peninsula.

Stearns, a visionary entrepreneur, established the company in 1871. His family had a long history in the lumber industry, with his father, A.T. Stearns, being a pioneer in the field. The younger Stearns inherited his father’s entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen, which he applied to the burgeoning lumber industry.  

The late 19th century was a golden age for the lumber industry in the United States. The vast forests of the Great Lakes region, rich in white pine and other valuable hardwoods, attracted lumbermen from across the country. The Stearns Salt and Lumber Company capitalized on this opportunity, building a network of sawmills and logging camps throughout the Upper Peninsula.

The company was renowned for its innovative practices and commitment to efficiency. Stearns introduced new technologies and techniques to streamline the lumbering process, such as steam-powered sawmills and improved logging methods. These advancements allowed the company to produce large quantities of high-quality lumber, which was then shipped to markets across the country.

In addition to lumber, the Stearns Salt and Lumber Company also ventured into the salt industry. The company operated salt mines in Michigan, producing salt for various industrial and domestic uses. This diversification helped to stabilize the company’s revenue stream and protect it from fluctuations in the lumber market.

The Stearns Salt and Lumber Company’s impact on the Great Lakes region was profound. The company’s operations provided employment for thousands of workers, stimulated economic growth in local communities, and contributed to the development of transportation infrastructure, such as railroads and shipping canals.

While the lumber boom eventually declined as forests were depleted, the legacy of the Stearns Salt and Lumber Company lives on. The company’s archives, housed at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan, provide valuable insights into the history of the lumber industry and the broader economic development of the Great Lakes region.

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