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The hardwood industry strikes gold supporting the “Gold Rush.”
The early Pacific Coast hardwood industry was formed in support of the
needs of the California Gold Rush ‘49ers. Much of the hardwood that
came around the Horn in clipper ships was destined for use by blacksmiths
and wagon makers to use in building the brace coaches and wagons that
hauled goods and passengers to the Gold Country as well as the wheelbarrows
and tools the miners used.
Some of the hardwood firms established in this era were:
• John Wigmore, established in the early 1860’s,
• Straut White & Co., established in 1868,
• White Brothers, established in 1872,
• Allen & Tuggle Lumber Co, established in 1883,
• J. H. Dieckmann and E. F. Niehaus, established in the late 80’s
or early 90’s.
San Francisco became the hardwood distributing center for the Western
part of the United States, and Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, Seattle
and Vancouver drew their supplies from this area.
Soon, California was more than a “Boom Town.” The increasing
population required goods supplied by a growing boat and shipbuilding
industry. As the manufacture of other commodities such as furniture, hardwood
house trim, etc., were introduced, other woods were added. The use of
hardwood trim in residences and stores gradually increased, and in the
early 1900’s oak flooring became popular, while maple flooring for
dance floors and skating rinks had been used for many years.1
Out of the ashes.
1883 - Although J. E. Higgins Lumber Company has had more than
its share of loss by fire, the Company was actually founded as the result
of a fire. The Allen & Tuggle Lumber Company, established in 1883,
was completely destroyed by fire in 1885. Mr. Tuggle did not care to resume
business, and Mr. James E. Higgins, Sr., purchased his half interest in
that year. He and Frank Allen formed Allen and Higgins Lumber Company
at Number Eighteen and Twenty Spear Street “with lots of faith and
not much cash” when they opened their business using the remains
of the lumber yard - approximately five rail cars of hardwood lumber.
1887 - The business prospered through the amazing Eighties and
Nineties of San Francisco’s early romantic growth. Making substantial
progress, the partners bought out their principal competitor, John Wigmore
& Sons and moved to Wigmore’s location at Spear and Howard Streets.
1901 - Frank Howard Allen passed away. J. E. Higgins assumed
the leadership of the business which continued to be known as Allen
& Higgins.
1906 - The Great San Francisco ‘Quake played no favorites.
Allen & Higgins went up in flames, along with the rest of the city.
The yard at Spear and Howard burned to the ground. Undaunted, more lumber
was ordered from the East, and materials that had been in route at the
time of the disaster was stacked in the open areas of the property.
The business was open again within four days, supplying some of the
materials needed to rebuild the City.
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| The Allen & Higgins Lumber Co., Spear and Howard streets, at 9:00 a.m. of April 18, 1906. |
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| When this photo was taken on May 15, 1906. Allen & Higgins had swept aside the ashes and was busily helping San Francisco rebuild from the havoc of the month before. |
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| Two ladies in high fashion of the era stand by an ancient safe and brick fireplace amid the rubble of the ruins following the disaster; this shot was made April 23, 1906. |
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1911 - J. E. purchased the full interest of the firm from Allen’s
estate, changing the name to J. E. Higgins Lumber Company, but keeping
the long standing motto, “A Lumber for Every Purpose.” In
order to live up to this motto, specialty woods such as Hungarian Ash
and African Mahoganies were added to the product offering.
1912 - The firm moved to larger quarters at 6th and Harrison
in San Francisco, and the President’s son, J. E. Higgins, Jr.,
started to work at this location where he “began getting splinters
in his hands stacking lumber in the yard.”2
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