Soper-Wheeler Company: A Century of Growing Trees
By Michael J. Gills
The Soper-Wheeler Company is the oldest privately owned timber company in California. Its origins can be traced back to the early 19th century on the East Coast, where both the Sopers and the Wheelers first entered the timber industry.
This book examines the history of both families, the development of their respective timber activities, and their eventual joining together to form the Soper-Wheeler Company. It also explores the evolution of America's timber industry and the impact of new technologies.
In spite of floods, fires, and the Great Depression, the Soper-Wheeler Company remained dedicated to its founding principles of conservative forest management, sustained yield harvesting, and reforestation. Beginning a century ago with a few scattered small land holdings in north central California, the company now owns more than 97,000 acres in California, and more thant 27,000 acres in New Zealand.
Today, Soper-Wheeler is using the latest technology to develop high-yielding trees for its New Zealand plantations. When the process is complete, more than 15 million genetically superior trees will have been planted there.
None of this would have been possible, however, without the people of Soper-Wheeler. Bold and innovative management, highly skilled employees in the woods, shop, and office, and creative foresters have made Soper-Wheeler one of the most respected timber companies in the country. This is their story.
For more information or to purchase the book, please visit the California Forest Foundation website, or call 1-877-REPLANT to order you copy and support The Forest Foundation. As a reminder, donations to The Forest Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, are tax deductible.