Logging in Sierra subject of museum lecture

Staff Reports

The Douglas County Historical Society's July lecture is 7 p.m. July 8 at the Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 1477 Highway 395, Gardnerville.

Carolyn Fregulia will be talking on "Logging in the Sierra." She is a fifth-generation rancher in Amador County, a local historian, and author of "Italians of the God Country" and "Logging in the Central Sierra."

She also has strong ties to Alpine County and the east slope of the Sierra. Her great-uncle and grandfather worked on the construction of Upper and Lower Blue Lakes, Twin Lake and Meadow Lake Dams in the 1880s and early 1900s. Fregulia spent her summers at Blue Lake since early childhood.

She was approached by Arcadia Publications to write a book about the historic Sierra logging industry and the logging of the east slope during the era of the Comstock Lode.

The logging industry was essential to the success of the economy of Western Nevada during that time. Harvested timber was used for mining, in the construction of communities, and as fuel. When the era concluded, much of the eastern face of the Sierra was denuded, with more than a quarter of the prehistoric forest gone.

The lecture is $3, or free for historical society members. Information, 782-2555.