Steam donkey, Amund Ellingson Logging Co. — circa 1900 — #G1327_1
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Photograph Copyright Anderson & Middleton Company
United States — Washington (State)
Ellingson Logging Co. was founded by Amund Ellingson. The company was taken over by Polson Logging Co. following his death by falling through a gap in a log raft. Bennett Ellingson, a son, worked for Polson's, then Rayonier. He is retired and lives in Humptulips [2007]. Thanks to John A. Taubeneck for contributing information.
Written information (a photocopy from the Daily World, May 11, 1975) reads "The crew of the Amund Ellingson Logging Company poses with one of the first Dolbeer Donkey engines to be used in the woods of Grays Harbor. Bill Jones of the Jones Historical Collection says the glass negative was one of a group marked 1889. Polson Logging Company bought the engine when Ellingson was killed".
Added thanks to Sam Talley who notes: “This invention quickly replaced the bull and horse teams as a way of moving or yarding logs. The mechanical Dolbeer donkey engine revolutionized logging. Earliest model had a single-cylinder upright steam engine fed by a small wood fire and was mounted on big metal skids. It was small but could match the strength of several bull teams. It was replaced by a better horizontal spool line donkey with a 'haul-back' line. A steam donkey is on display northeast of Humptulips in Promised Land Park; another one is in Shelton."
