(1 - 2 of 2)
- Identifier
- wwu:29343
- Title
- Don Oehler oral history interview (transcript)
- Date
- 2006-05-04
- Description
- 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.
- Digital Collection
- Waterfront Oral History Project
- Type of resource
- Text
- Object custodian
- Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
- Related Collection
- Waterfront Oral History Project records
- Local Identifier
- wohp_oehler20060504
- Text preview (might not show all results)
- Don Oehler Interview 1 Title: Interview with Don Oehler Interviewer: Kelsey Dosen Date: 2006 May 4 Collection: Waterfront Oral History Project Records Repository: Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Washington University Transcription: Kelsey Dosen Revisions: Transcript revised by Rozlind
- Identifier
- wwu:29333
- Title
- John Andersen oral history interview (transcript)
- Date
- 2006-05-04
- Description
- Mr. Andersen briefly describes his personal background which led him to a career at GP's pulp mill in Bellingham, WA. He held various jobs at the mill like process engineer, production supervisor, environmental manager, tissue mill technical services manager, and manager of alcohol and lignin operations. Mr. Anderson briefly describes the busy face of Bellingham's waterfront when he first arrived in the city in 1977. He suggests that GP became increasingly concerned with environmental issues in the 1970s, and then discusses how the company addressed those issues. He describes the research into other uses for the chemical byproducts of the pulping process that took place at the mill. Mr. Andersen suggests that GP led the forest products industry in the area of mill safety. He talks about an energy crisis in 2001, which he believes led to the eventual closure of the pulp mill. He discusses the community's changing attitude toward the Bellingham mill and also speculates about the future of Bellingham's waterfront.
- Digital Collection
- Waterfront Oral History Project
- Type of resource
- Text
- Object custodian
- Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
- Related Collection
- Waterfront Oral History Project records
- Local Identifier
- wohp_andersen20060504
- Text preview (might not show all results)
- John Andersen interview 1 Title: Interview with John Andersen. Interviewer: Tracy Dihle Date: 2006 May 4 Collection: Waterfront Oral History Project Records Repository: Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Washington University Transcription: Tracy Dihle Revisions: Transcript revised by Roz