Defiance Lumber Co. (1906-1951)

Intro here please

This large mill was at the west end of the waterfront during the lumber boom of the 20^th century. It was built in 1906 on the same site as the old Ferry Lumber Company; but its great size (width) placed it between Cheyenne Street and Mullen Street. It was run by the Doud Bros. (Leslie (L. L.), Chester (C.C.) and Willard, but was initiated financially with the help of George Reed and John C. Buchanan.

The Defiance Mill grew rapidly in size. In 1911, C. C. Doud sold his interest to Leslie, Willard, and Linneus L. Whitman (later involved in the Western Fir Lumber Co.—already covered on our tour).

By the 1920s, the mill was noted for producing large timbers for export to Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Donald and Lee L. Doud were the “second generation” Douds in charge during later years. In 1929 (in conjunction with Samuel Gange) the Douds built the Gange Lumber Co. (to cut smaller logs).

The Defiance Mill operated until December of 1951, when it finally closed because of a lack of logs. The mill was razed just a few short years later, but dozens of pilings remained on the shoreline site for decades as a reminder to all who traveled Ruston Way of this once magnificent mill.