2017 International Forest Industries Magazines IFI Aug Sept 2017 v2 | Page 71

We’re a tightly knit group. And now with the
new machines that are so easy to run, we’re
attracting some younger operators in their
twenties, too. They grew up with technology,
so they are very hands-on. It’s been easier to
recruit because of the new equipment.
John McGowin, owner, McGowin Logging Company
logging-rail operation that went
as far as 45 to 50 miles from the
mill. In 1910, W.T. Smith Lumber
Company (the McGowins kept the
name) began skidding logs using a
steam loader with a cable. During
the 1930s and ’40s, the company
started felling with chainsaws
and skidding with a crawler dozer.
By 1940, the last log train ran in
Chapman, to be replaced by truck
logging.
Over the years, W.T. Smith
Lumber acquired around 220,000
acres of timberland. The company
switched from clearcutting to
select cutting to better preserve
forests. In 1966, the McGowins sold
their land holdings to Union Camp
Corporation, which wanted the land
to grow pulpwood for its papermill
in Prattville. The holdings were
converted to plantation forests of
mostly loblobby pine. Just over a
decade later, John McGowin began
his career in logging as harvesting
supervisor for Union Camp, coming
full circle.
From the time it was
incorporated in April 1891 until it
was sold to Union Camp 75 years
later in April 1966, W.T. Smith
Lumber was the oldest lumber
company in the country that had
been operating continuously, at the
same location, and under the same
name and corporate structure.
This article originally
appeared in The
Landing, Spring
2017, the official
publication of John
Deere Ltd
McGowin runs two new 648L and two 648H Skidders, along with three
Deere 437D Knuckleboom Loaders and two 650K Deere Dozers
International Forest Industries | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2017 69