Deadfall: Generations of Logging in the Pacific Northwest

by James Lemonds

Through the life stories of the author's grandfathers, father, uncles, and cousins, Deadfall documents the dramatic changes in the logging industry since the early 1900s. The book focuses on the influence of international timber giant Weyerhaeuser Company in the Pacific Northwest, yet its themes resonate from Alaska to the American Southeast--wherever timber is king. While spurning nostalgia for logging's glory days, Deadfall attempts to view a future for today's timber workers.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

201 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed, highly researched look at life as a logger in the Pacific Northwest, from the 1950s through the mid 1990s.

[Shannon Knight]

Deadfall is a multi-generational narrative of the logging industry primarily in southwestern Washington state. LeMonds has a direct, clear writing style and explains most of the logging terminology seamlessly. There's also a short logging term glossary at the end. LeMonds doesn't glorify working in the woods. His narrative is built primarily on family accounts, so naturally there's more stories told from the most recent generations with a concentration from the 60s to 90s. Readers can also see the sweeping historical changes related to the availability of diminishing old growth in this logging period. The story includes both gyppos (independent contractors) and companies (mostly Weyerhauser), with Weyerhauser's policies and treatment of loggers being a larger factor on workers' lives than changing government regulations in regards to environmental protections. Interestingly, not a single story shows a loggers-versus-environmentalists mindset or battle, which is a popular narrative.

My critique of the book is that the narrative isn't equally gripping throughout. Some of the individual accounts follow the same time period and same major changes. Seeing individuals make different choices in these situations is quite interesting, but I really noticed any repetition, such as the repeated statements presented as the feminine perspective (wives, mothers, sisters) about Mt. St. Helens thankfully erupting on a Sunday when the logger deaths wouldn't be as widespread. The original statement was very impactful, but the repetition felt strange and flattening as if all of womankind had been concentrated into one reaction, which needed restated because who would've been paying attention the first time? In fact, much of that area of the book was distracting because it was written as if we hadn't just read the chapter prior to it, so we perhaps weren't supposed to notice the bits that were repeated.

[Benton Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent narrative history of the loggers and the logging industry in southwest Washington. Focusing on the period from the 1960's to the 1990's it tells an engaging and sometimes captivating story of the rise and fall of a dangerous profession that provided middle-class opportunities for thousands of workers. Would strongly recommend for anyone interested in the 20th century history of Northwest logging and southwest Washington.

[Lauri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty well written. He tells a very balanced account of the logging industry in our state. Considering that he comes from a logging family and grew up in a logging town, he really knows what he's talking about. An easy and interesting read, especially for Washington State natives.

[Gwynneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the more balanced viewpoints on PNW logging I've seen. Pros and cons regarding forestry management and corporate mismanagement are here from the generations of people who worked at ground zero.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to be honest and state my appeal to this book is entirely based around the fact that it takes place where I grew up and that Jim was my High School English teacher. Nevertheless, still a quite interesting read.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author was my english teacher for most of High School. This is an excellent history of logging in my area, and a very, very good read to boot!

[Dorothy]

Informative. Nice blending of logging history with family experience