{"id":120,"date":"2024-07-22T21:54:14","date_gmt":"2024-07-22T21:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/?page_id=120"},"modified":"2024-08-01T15:29:57","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T15:29:57","slug":"the-ayer-lumber-company","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/the-ayer-lumber-company\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ayer Lumber Company"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-foreground-background-color has-background is-layout-flow\"><nav class=\"has-text-color has-background-color has-background has-foreground-background-color is-responsive wp-block-navigation is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Navigation\"><button aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open always-shown\" data-micromodal-trigger=\"modal-1\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.5\" width=\"16\" height=\"1.5\" \/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"15\" width=\"16\" height=\"1.5\" \/><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container hidden-by-default \" style=\"\" id=\"modal-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-micromodal-close>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" aria-label=\"Menu\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" data-micromodal-close class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" id=\"modal-1-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container\"><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/home\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Home<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/exhibit\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Exhibit Timeline<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/interactive-map\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Interactive Map<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/resources\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Resources<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/credits-acknowledgements\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Credits &amp; Acknowledgements<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"alignfull has-background-color has-foreground-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Ayer Lumber Company<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignfull is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center\" style=\"grid-template-columns:59% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/06\/SCAexhibit3-2-1024x498.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/06\/SCAexhibit3-2-1024x498.png 1024w, https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/06\/SCAexhibit3-2-300x146.png 300w, https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/06\/SCAexhibit3-2-768x373.png 768w, https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/06\/SCAexhibit3-2.png 1368w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>Motivated by business prospects in the timber industry and his knowledge of northern Arizona\u2019s wealth of timberlands, Chicago businessman Edward E. Ayer (1841-1927) acquired the contract that would allow him to supply the Atlantic &amp; Pacific Railroad charter with wooden railroad ties. Ayer founded the Ayer Lumber Company in March of 1882 and began constructing a permanent sawmill in Flagstaff, Arizona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-extra-small-font-size\">The Ayer Lumber Company sawmill was completed in August of 1882. It promptly began producing lumber and railroad ties for the Atlantic &amp; Pacific Railroad, which was actively being constructed through the Flagstaff settlement at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:0.83rem\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdm16748.contentdm.oclc.org\/digital\/collection\/ahsnd\/id\/750\/rec\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[<strong>Ayer Lumber Company workers in front of Ayer Mill and spring. AHS General Collection. AHS.0122.00001.<\/strong>]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"250\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/07\/treesdivider-3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-384\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery alignfull has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"988\" height=\"618\" data-id=\"841\"  src=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/07\/fire3-edited.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/07\/fire3-edited.png 988w, https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/07\/fire3-edited-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/07\/fire3-edited-768x480.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 988px) 100vw, 988px\" \/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/cdm16748.contentdm.oclc.org\/digital\/collection\/ahsnd\/id\/250\/rec\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Ayers Pioneer Hose Company, fire fighters. Mary and Robert Chambers Collection. AHS.0020.00222.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1140\" height=\"618\" data-id=\"842\"  src=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/07\/ayer-edited.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-842\" srcset=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/07\/ayer-edited.png 1140w, https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/07\/ayer-edited-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/07\/ayer-edited-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/07\/ayer-edited-768x416.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/cdm16748.contentdm.oclc.org\/digital\/collection\/ahsnd\/id\/519\/rec\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ayer Lumber Mill workers&#8217; group portrait, 1883. Bill Cameron Collection. AHS.0743.00005.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Fire repeatedly interfered with sawmill and logging operations at the Ayer Lumber Company. Lightning, sparks produced by the railroad, flying embers from a passing train, and reckless lumberjacks often started fires near the sawmill and the surrounding forests. Ayer Lumber Company sawmill employees quickly became adept at extinguishing fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When loggers heard the town church bells ringing along with the sawmill whistle, they sprang into action to extinguish a fire no matter the time of day or night. Fires threatened the Ayer Lumber Company by destroying company property and timberlands. To protect their economic well-being, the company practiced intensive fire suppression, effectively altering the ponderosa pine ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"250\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/07\/treesdivider-4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-385\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignfull has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 59%\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/06\/scaexhibit16-1024x498.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-127 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/06\/scaexhibit16-1024x498.png 1024w, https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/06\/scaexhibit16-300x146.png 300w, https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/06\/scaexhibit16-768x373.png 768w, https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/06\/scaexhibit16.png 1368w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-extra-small-font-size\">In 1886, Edward E. Ayer sold the company to his business partner, Denis M. Riordan (1848-1928), who had worked as the head manager of the Ayer Lumber Company sawmill since 1884. D.M. Riordan\u2019s brothers, Timothy A. Riordan (1858-1946) and Michael J. Riordan (1865-1930), moved from their home in Chicago to Flagstaff at roughly the same time to work for the company with their older brother. Under the ownership of the Riordan brothers, the Ayer Lumber Company was renamed the Arizona Lumber &amp; Timber Company (AL&amp;T).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:0.83rem\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cdm16748.contentdm.oclc.org\/digital\/collection\/cpa\/id\/7174\/rec\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">[Arizona Lumber and Timber Company: lumbermen in front of mill.]. 1890. Arizona Lumber and Timber Company Collection. NAU.PH.676.11.<\/a><\/strong>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons alignfull is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-7\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-50 has-custom-font-size has-source-serif-pro-font-family has-large-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-foreground-background-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/?page_id=23&amp;preview=true\"><strong>Return to Timeline<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-50 has-custom-font-size has-source-serif-pro-font-family has-large-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/?page_id=135&amp;preview=true\"><strong>1887: The Arizona Lumber &amp; Timber Company<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ayer Lumber Company Motivated by business prospects in the timber industry and his knowledge of northern Arizona\u2019s wealth of timberlands, Chicago businessman Edward E. Ayer (1841-1927) acquired the contract that would allow him to supply the Atlantic &amp; Pacific Railroad charter with wooden railroad ties. Ayer founded the Ayer Lumber Company in March of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"blank","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":884,"href":"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120\/revisions\/884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.nau.edu\/speccoll\/exhibits\/scaexhibits\/forestry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}