Visitors to the Black Mountain Forestry Center this coming summer may come away with a taste of whit it was like to harvest the big timber of the Cascade mountains over a century ago.

Center volunteers hope to educate their visitors on Washington's rich logging heritage and modern forest practices. The center also hopes to promote tourism and economic growth in the Mt. Baker Foothills.

The idea for the center started as a dream of late Whatcom County forester Wayne Beech. He was the prime mover behind the project until his untimely death early last fall.

"The whole(timber growth) cycle was what he was about," Bellingham land use consultant Anthony Raab said of Beech. "He wanted people to use a two by four and realize that is come from a tree."

Beech was involved in timber sales for the U.S. Forest Service. After retiring in 1984, he managed and logged his on 35-acre farm. Raab said Beech wanted to educate people on forestry with emphasis on the sustainability of properly managed forests. "Most of the public thinks we're cutting down trees and ending the world," Raab said. "This simple isn't the truth"

Currently, volunteers are working on constructing a demonstration logging site and mill at Silver Lake park. In addition to providing land for the forestry center, Whatcom County parks is allowing forestry center volunteers to turn the Gerdrum House into a museum.

"We are collecting the pieces right now," Raab said. "We have five months to put this thing together."

Volunteers met December 4 at Silver Lake Park to organize for the center;s proposed opening on Memorial Day. Raab said volunteers will meet again December 19 at 2pm at the Maple Falls Forestry Center Office.

The Black Mountain Forestry Center has received support from both public and private organizations throughout the Northwest. Crown-Pacific Corporation contributed $20,000 to cover startup costs.

The center has also received $35,000 grant form the U.S. Forest Service to be spent over the next three years. The World Forestry Center, the University of Washington College of Forest Resource, and Western Washington University have offered their support of he project.

Raab said the museum will take visitors through time showing the evolution's of forest management over the past century.

The forest center will offer three tours to the public ranging from a self-guided tour of the exhibits to a full day buss tour beginning and ending in Bellingham.

Visitors to the center will be able to see photographs of early loggers at work, antique tools collections and a log house. Visitors will be able to see a logging demonstration and demonstration saw mill where two-by-four boards will be cut. The logging demonstration area will feature a tower, loader and other equipment.

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