Don Oehler oral history interview (transcript)

Mr. Oehler describes his background growing up in Portland, Oregon, and Grand Forks, North Dakota. At the Bellingham mill, he worked as a project engineer for the technical group, start-up engineer for the chlorine plant, and then paperboard operation manager. He talks in detail about the pulping process, explaining how byproducts like multi-tracin could be used in other industries. He also points out the company's great financial contribution to Bellingham, but suggests that the community's attitude toward the mill changed over time as a result of industrial pollution and new environmental legislation. Mr. Oehler describes union activity, labor negotiations, and strikes at the mill. He talks about the global market today, pointing out how technology changed all industry throughout the world. He expresses his feelings regarding the mill's closure, his thoughts about the potential for young people to find meaningful employment in this area, and his hopes for the future of Bellingham's waterfront.

2006-05-04

Text

Oehler, Don (interviewee)
Down, Kelsey (interviewer)

oral histories (literary works)

application/pdf

Georgia-Pacific Corporation. Bellingham Division
Puget Sound Pulp and Timber Co.

Bellingham (Wash.)

Waterfront Oral History Project records

http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv47557

Digital object made available by the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Heritage Resources, Western Washington University.

WaBeCP
Western Washington University

Center for Pacific Northwest Studies

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
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