OUR HISTORY
NEVER FAR FROM THE TREES
Stimson's origins date back to 1850 in Michigan, where 19-year-old Thomas Douglas "T.D." Stimson and his business partner felled their inaugural tree. Although the two eventually went their separate ways, T.D. — and subsequently his children — established an integrated wood products company that continues to grow and thrive.
1800s
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
1850s
Humble Beginnings
T.D. begins acquiring timberlands, setting up lumber camps, and selling logs to mills in Muskegon, Michigan.
1860s
Change in Direction
Taking a break from his burgeoning lumber career, T.D. seizes a riskier opportunity as oil is discovered across the border in Canada. In 1864, he lost everything.
1870s
New Start
T.D. strikes a deal selling timber to a former employer in Chicago. Over the next year, he navigates northern Michigan's backwoods, buying timber, closing deals, and sending logs down the Muskegon River. By 1871, he acquired enough acreage to establish mills equipped with modern machinery. T.D. manages the growing business with his sons, daughter, and son-in-law.
1880s
Expanding Interests
Sensing a market shift amid land scarcity and declining timber quality, T.D. turns westward. He sails up the Columbia River to Portland, Oregon, with his sons and eventually reaches Seattle. Impressed by the region's quality timber, rapid growth, and saltwater port, T.D. relocates from Michigan despite owning the third-largest lumber mill there.
1889
Acquiring Timberland
T.D. and his sons re-establish their business in Seattle. They acquire timberlands throughout the area — in Snohomish County and Hood Canal in Washington, the Tillamook region in Oregon, California — and purchase an existing mill north of Seattle in Ballard, Washington.
1890
Incorporation
Stimson Mill Company is incorporated and begins processing lumber, laths, and shingles.
1898
Learning the Business
T.D.'s grandson, Charles Willard (C.W.), collaborates with his uncle in Seattle, mastering all facets of the family business, from timberland exploration to mill operations and finance. C.W. is a natural woodsman who takes on more responsibilities and eagerly anticipates future expansion.
1900s
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
1912
Moving Operations
C.W. sells the Ballard mill and moves operations to Hood Canal to log the timberlands his father purchased 40 years earlier.
1923
Another Purchase
C.W. purchases Seattle's historic Brace-Hergert Mill on Lake Union and renames it the Stimson Lumber Company. The mill employs over 200 workers and produces 50 million board feet of lumber annually.
1929
Coming Home
After extensive logging cleared the Hood Canal area, C.W. needs more quality timber, mirroring his grandfather's situation nearly 50 years prior. He looks to the 25,000 acres of old-growth timber his father acquired four decades ago in Oregon's Tillamook region.
1930s
The Great Depression
Stimson weathers the Great Depression exceedingly well, never shutting down or laying off workers.
1933
Staying Competitive
C.W. remains involved in the business, but his son-in-law, Harold Miller, is tasked with building a state-of-the-art sawmill in Forest Grove, Oregon. He provides the leadership necessary for the company to remain viable in an increasingly competitive market.
1945
Hardboard Emerges
Following devastating fires that burned 355,000 acres in Tillamook, the company found a novel use for the burned and green wood—transforming it into "hardboard." Stimson's Forest Fiber Products Company emerged as the third hardboard plant in the U.S.
Late 1940s
Redwood Forest Land Purchase
Stimson purchases 10,000 acres of redwood forest land in Del Norte County, California, to provide timber for Miller Redwood Company, a Stimson subsidiary in Crescent City, California.
1962
A New Purchase
Stimson purchases phenol manufacturer Northwest Petrochemical Company in Anacortes, Washington. Phenol is a chemical used to process hardboards.
1962
Plywood Plant Purchase
Stimson acquires a plywood facility in Merlin, Oregon, seamlessly integrating with the company's broader operations and utilizing phenol produced in Anacortes, Washington.
1980
Largest Land Purchase
Stimson purchased 27,598 acres of forest land in the Grand Ronde region of western Oregon. This is the company’s largest land purchase to date, and it and pushes Stimson’s holdings to almost 70,000 acres.
1981
New Leadership
After Harold Miller's passing, Darrell Schroeder, a Stimson employee since 1946, became the company's inaugural non-family leader. Over the ensuing decade, he spearheaded expansion initiatives in Forest Grove, Clatskanie, and Oregon City, Oregon.
1990s
Growth & Sustainability
With a continuous focus on long-term growth and sustainability, Stimson has become more aggressive in its acquisitions, purchasing assets from Champion International, Plum Creek Timber Company, and Idaho Forest Industries.
1991
Charting a Course
The new CEO, Dan Dutton, addresses concerns about the supply of raw materials at Stimson. The company acquires 12,800 acres in Clatsop and Columbia counties and 2,000 acres from the McGregor properties and Associated Timberlands. In August, Andrew Miller, experienced in the forest product industry, joined as the strategic planning and acquisitions manager.
2000s
A NEW ERA
2000-2004
Oregon Land Trades and Purchases
Stimson completed its first land trade with Weyco in 2003, adding 34,588 acres of forest land to Oregon Timberlands, and its second land trade with Weyco added another 10,231 acres.
Stimson bought former Trask River Lumber Stud mill operations in Tillamook, Oregon from TreeSource Industries.
Entry into ID and MT Milling Operations
Stimson purchased 109,000 acres of forest land in Idaho from Idaho Industries and 81,000 acres in Montana from Plum Creek.
2004
Back in the Family
Because of his dedication, extensive company knowledge, relationships with the management team and broad understanding of the industry, Andrew became CEO in April 2004. He continues to develop long-term strategic plans for the company.
2006
Idaho Mill Acquisition
Stimson acquires Plummer, ID mill operations from Plummer Forest Products.
2008
Another Land Trade, Purchase and Sale in OR and ID
The “Emerald” land trade with Green Diamond is completed, adding 41,370 Acres to Oregon Timberland.
Stimson agreed to Roseburg Forest Products purchasing the Duratemp plywood siding product line.
Stimson purchased the Regulus Stud Mills Inc. facility in St. Maries, ID.
2009
Sale of Non-Strategic Timberland
7,600 acres of non-strategic timberland is sold to Weyco in the “Fish” Disposition.
2011-2014
Additional Land Purchase in Idaho
Stimson purchased 33,000 acres of forestland in Idaho from PotlatchDeltic.
2016
Additional Land Purchase in Montana
Stimson purchased 21,000 acres of forestland in Montana from Weyerhaeuser.
2017-2019
Continued Land Purchase in Idaho and Montana
Stimson purchased 15,000 acres of forestland in Idaho from Molpus Woodlands Group.
A total of 68,000 acres of forestland is purchased in Montana from Weyerhaeuser.