Posted by: thepinetree on 02/22/2013 09:57 AM
Updated by: thepinetree on 02/22/2013 09:57 AM
Expires: 01/01/2018 12:00 AM
:
Frank N. Blagen, Jr., 93, 1919 - 2013 Part of Logging History of Calaveras County
Arnold, CA...Frank N. Blagen from Blagens that gave Blagen Road and the Blagen Mill it's name. From The Sierra Logging Museum's John Hofstetter "This obituary would seem to have little relevance to us, but quite the opposite is the case. The town of White Pines was founded by Frank Blagen Sr. in 1938 when he moved his mill down to Dunbar Meadow (Most of which is now White Pines Lake). Even though Mr. Blagen lost his mill due to financial difficulties, the mill retained his name until it closed in 1962. The Blagens brought with them their two sons, Howard and Frank Jr. When American Forest Products acquired the mill, for whatever reason, Howard was accepted into the company and had a long career with them, becoming General Manager of both the West Point Mills. Frank Jr., on the other hand, was ordered off the property and those who sought to help him were punished by the company. Autobiographies of both men are on the Logging Museum's web site and are very interesting. www.sierraoggingmuseum.org Howard's daughter, Patricia Blagen Bradley became a prime mover in the creation of the museum, and continues to be a major factor in not only keeping it open, but also improving it every year. As we put together articles for the web site, Pat would get us information we needed from her Uncle Frank. It is sad to know that resource is gone....
Here is part of his obituary:
Frank N. Blagen, Jr., 93, left us to be with the Lord on February 11, 2013, with his family by his side. He was born December 23, 1919 in Hoquiam, Washington, the third of three children born to Frank and Helen Blagen. Frank’s brother, Howard Blagen and sister, Marilyn McIntosh, preceded him in death.
In 1924, when he was five, Frank’s family moved from Hoquiam, Washington, to Calpine, CA. where his father managed a lumber mill. Growing up during the years at Calpine, and later in his family’s White Pines mill in West Point, California, Frank learned the lumber business under his father’s guidance. Not surprisingly, most of Frank’s own working career was in building, owning, and managing lumber mills in northern California or Oregon. Early in his career, he also worked in construction while living in San Rafael and with the Navy SeaBees during World War II.
In the 1980’s and 90’s, he continued his lumber related career as a partner in Redwood Coast Trucking Company. During this time, he and Dolores moved into the home they built in Willow Creek CA, where they lived together until 2003 when Dolores passed away.
|
