1907

October 31, 2018

The Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Co. pushed the railroad to Orr bringing thousands of men, many immigrants to work in the surrounding forests.  The VRL Lumber Co. was the largest on earth producing on average a million board feet of lumber a day seven days a week.  Production on such a vast scale required an enormous supply of virgin white and red pine harvesting a total of four billion board feet over a 20 year period.  With the influx of rowdy lumberjacks, Orr was very rough and tumble; public drunkenness, fights, murders, gambling and prostitution were all part of the lawless area.