CATCHMARK TECHNOLOGIES

By the turn of the century, lumber was a multi-million dollar industry in Michigan. Great pine groves with trees towering 175 ft. and a diameter of 8 ft. were felled by the millions. Using narrow logging roads, logs were moved to the banks of the rivers where these floating monsters would be moved to the sawmills after the spring thaw. ​ Millions of board feet of logs would cover the rivers and lakes like a blanket, with tens, if not hundreds of separate sawmills claiming ownership of portions of the haul. How in the world were they able to sort out what belonged to who and ensure that everyone received their harvest? The CATCHMARK, that's how. ​ CatchMarks or log marks, each one different for each different logging company, were affixed to the ends of the logs (similar to the cattle brands used in the West). ​ The design of a log mark might include the initials of the lumber company's owner or symbols from the logging industry or from nature. The designs were cast into the metal end..

Also known as: CatchMark

Primary location: Grand Rapids United States