Column: It's fitting to see Logger Days at J. Neils Park

When Libby High School’s football players make their way onto the field during home games on Friday nights, a chorus of chainsaws echo through the evening air. Oh yeah, the Loggers are getting ready to rumble.

For newcomers or visitors to Libby, the logging connection may not be so easily noticed. As folks around these parts know, the industry has suffered some major hits over the past 20 years. In its heydey, the community’s daily life revolved around logging.

It’s appropriate that the 51st annual Libby Logger Days celebration will be staged at J. Neils Memorial Park. The site is named for a man that had a lot – a whole lot – to do with Libby’s logging heritage.

Libby’s roots date back to the 19th century with both logging and mining having a significant presence. The first sawmill in town opened over the winter of 1891-92 in a spot near the bridge that goes over the Kootenai River. In 1906, Dawson Lumber Co. built a sawmill and Libby began to attract settlers. Libby had grown a lot with Dawson in town but logging became a truly significant part of the landscape with the arrival of J. Neils.

In the book “Small Town Renaissance,” which chronicles life in rural Montana during the 1940s, it reads, “It’s a safe bet that anybody you meet (in Libby) first either has worked or still does work for the J. Neils Lumber Co.”

Julius Neils had roots in Wisconsin and his lumber company was incorporated at Sauk Rapids, Minn., in 1895. Around 1906-07, the company purchased timberlands in northwestern Montana – including right here in Lincoln County.

In 1911, Neils bought out Dawson, which had mills and approximately 10,000 acres of timberlands in the region. Paul Neils, son of Julius, took over as general manager and sales manager in 1912 and the company began to experience some success.

In 1915, the Libby mill was lost after assets were divided. Many of Neils’ other interests in Montana were retained while Paul Neils returned to Minnesota. In 1919, Neils re-purchased the Libby mill and timberlands from the Shevlin Co.

In the post-World War I era, Neils’ operation flourished. By 1923, the Minnesota operation had dried up and with no more timber to purchase, his mill closed. The company bought a mill in Klickitat, Wash., while continuing to increase its production in Montana.

A few setbacks followed, including difficult times during the Depression. By 1935, truck logging had been established in Libby, replacing the use of rail. At one time, the J. Neils Lumber Co., operated the largest private mill in the world.

In 1944, Neils acquired Montana Light & Power Co., and in 1955, the company built a mill in Troy. Then in 1957, Neils merged with St. Regis Paper Co., and a stud mill was constructed in Libby a year later. A plywood plant began operating in the early 1960s.

In the following years, the logging industry began to experience challenges. In 1984, St. Regis merged with Champion International and a new outlook on production surfaced. By the early 1990s, the beginning of the end could be seen. In 1993, Plum Creek Timber Co., and Stimson Lumber bought Champion’s assets and continued operations. The Libby mill closed in December 2002.

In 1999, Airfield Park near Libby was renamed J. Neils Memorial Park by Lincoln County. Neils once owned the land where the park now sits. Besides logging, the Neils family has contributed to Libby in many other ways, including support for medical, church and recreational facilities.

Today, Logger Days continues to celebrate Libby’s connection between the forests and the community.