This coffee style book contains most of the photographs of Hilt contained in the display originally created by Frank Graves at the State Line Services in Hilt, California. The 160 photographs and text cover the origins of the town, including many of the people who lived and worked in Hilt.

Most of the photos were taken in the 1920‘s and 1930‘s and were extensively restored. Several other photographs were also included to complete the historical flow.

The book can be previewed and ordered HERE

In the late 1960’s, I made a color slide program of the lumber industry for an elementary school. I took these 124 photographs and added some personal comments to describe the processing of lumber from the woods to the finished lumber in Hilt, California. These photos in this coffee table style book show the town, woods, mill, and areas around Hilt. 

The book can be previewed and ordered HERE

Hilt was founded in 1901, later became owned by Fruit Growers Supply Company to make boxes as part of Sunkist Orange and ultimately sold lumber until its demise in 1974.

I have been working to digitize as much of the town photographs and records as possible and making them available to others. So far I have created two books on the town that can be previewed and ordered from a self-publishing site. The restoration project so far has spanned several years. An example of the project is shown here: restoration project web version copy.pdf.

A sample of the Hilt photographs can be seen here.

Publish date: July 12, 2009—76 pages 

size: 10” x 8”  all  photographs are color

from 35mm slides.

Publish date: April 24, 2009—44 pages 

size: 10” x 8”  - most of the photographs are black and white and completely restored

UNDER CONSTRUCTION I am working on a book that has every student who went through the Hilt Elementary School from 1921 to 1973. We have every child from 1921 to about 1960 and from then on, we have mostly the class photos. This indexed book will have many old photographs which I am in the process of restoring and adding captions. I hope to have it complete by the town reunion in August 2011.

WE CAN USE YOUR HELP

In an attempt to collect as much of Hilt’s history and memories, we are making a concerted effort to record and document events, activities and the spirit of the town. Since this brochure  hilt brochure2.pdf went out in August, we have been receiving many photographs and stories. All the photographs we have received are being scanned in and will be displayed in the Hilt albums that Jerry Lehman is maintaining and shown at the Hilt Reunions. Also, we are making a catalog of all Hilt photographs and also hope to create a detailed history of the town. I will also be visiting the local museums and newspapers to capture as much as they have on the town as well. Download the brochure if you have not already received one. And if you want to be placed on the Hilt email list which will include announcements of available materials, progress on the Hilt story and reunion information, click here and send me an email.

HILT PRESENTATION Hilt Presentation pdf1.pdf In November, I gave a presentation to the Academy of Lifelong Learning sponsored by the Oregon State Alumni Association on Hilt, California. The presentation covered memories of the town and its history as part of a sequence of classes on old towns. It was extremely well received. The preparation for this presentation has enabled me to find and restore many old photographs of the town. A subset of the presentation is shown here. I have taken out the moving parts and slide builds. At least you see the information (or photos) I presented. This is copyrighted material. CAUTION - THIS WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO LOAD AS IT IS A BIG FILE.