Weyerhaeuser Book Talk and Program

The Carlton County Historical Society and the Cloquet Public Library will co-sponsor a Book Talk and Program with Judith Koll Healey, author of "Frederick Weyerhaeuser and the American West", and Ted Weyerhaeuser, great-grandson of Frederick Weyerhaeuser, on Thursday, April 21, at 1 p.m. at the CCHS museum at 406 Cloquet Avenue in Cloquet.

Healey's definitive biography chronicles the life of Frederick Weyerhaeuser (1834-1914), the founder of what is now known as the Weyerhaeuser Company, a wood products industry with international reach. He came to Knife Falls (now Cloquet) in 1883, gained interests in all three major lumber companies, and developed the Northwest Paper Company and the idea for the Wood Conversion Company. He established his son, Rudolph Weyerhaeuser as manager of the Northern Lumber Company, and later president of the Northwest Paper Company. His youngest son, Frederick Edward Weyerhaeuser, continued developing the Wood Conversion Company with his brothers, Rudolph and John Philip as vice presidents.

Later, his great-grandson, Frederick Theodore "Ted" Weyerhaeuser, moved to Cloquet to join the Wood Conversion Company, later renamed Conwed. As former president and CEO of Conwed, Ted Weyerhaeuser will augment the book talk with personal family recollections.

This Book Talk and Program augments the museum's current exhibit "Wood City Smokestacks", highlighting the history of Cloquet's three big wood products industries, including Northwest Paper Company and the Wood Conversion Company.

After the program, refreshments will be served. Regular admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children under 12, and free admission for children under 5 and Carlton County Historical Society members. The museum is handicapped accessible. For more information call 218-879-1938.