PORT ORFORD CEDAR*
Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) grows between Eureka, California
and Coos Bay, Oregon. The area around Port Orford had most of the large
stands. Some of the trees are more than 600 years old, six feet in diameter,
and 200-feet tall. Very few are left today.
In 1854, the first sawmill arrived in Port Orford by steamer from California.
Eighteen days later the mill was up and running with a capacity of 5,000
board feet per day. Port Orford cedar has been used to build ships, bridges,
arrow shafts, caskets, shrines and temples, Japanese airplanes, boat planking,
grandstands, broom handles, Venetian blinds, most of the old homes in town,
and just about anything else that can be made of wood. Straight-grained,
satiny textured, sweet scented, and durable, Port Orford Cedar is know
worldwide.
A large stand of Port Orford cedar is across from Pacific High School,
7-miles north of Port Orford on Highway 101. The high school uses this
forest for environmental education. Because of disease, Port Orford cedar
is becoming more and more rare. Trees throughout the area are dying of
a fungus: Phytophthera lateralis, which attacks the roots. The fungus is
hard to control because it is spread by water runoff, stream flow, animals,
vehicles, and even hikers’ feet.
*Thanks to R.S. Poe and her informative
calendar: Footnotes and Footprints, for the information about Port Orford
cedar.
PORT ORFORD CEDAR*
