History
•Our Founder
•Our Board
•Supporters
•Volunteers
•Donations

Wayne Beech spent his entire life in the forestry industry. He retired from the National Forest Service in 1985 after 35 years of dedicated service, mapping and rating timberland for logging. He began his career with the Forest Service building and restoring many of the popular trails we hike today.

Wayne's love for the forest developed into a deep respect of the value of timber and the crucial role proper management plays in ensuring healthy forests for generations to come. Wayne continued his efforts to teach forest management after he retired by educating both forest preservationists and loggers alike on the renewable benefits of well managed forests.

Wayne envisioned an educational center designed to illustrate how both logging and the preservation of forests can be achieved through careful management. His dream was to develop full day tours and half-day tours that would take tourists through the local Mt. Baker Foothills area, showing all phases of logging and reforestation.

The tours would show old growth, different stages of developed forests and logging sites, designed to educate visitors about why it is necessary for our ecosystem, including the wildlife, to have all stages of forest growth.

Wayne also dreamed of opening a museum containing items such as photographs and artifacts from the local Mt. Baker Foothills Community. This museum is the Gerdrum Homestead, which was built out of one cedar tree and is located at the Silver Lake Park, Maple Falls, WA. This location includes a large field for a demonstration site of equipment displays and practices, from old school techniques to new technologies. BMFC draws tourists, including families and people of all ages, as well as student groups for extended classroom education. Woodcrafters are invited to sell wood products and demonstrate how they make the products that we all enjoy today. This opportunity can provide an income for displaced loggers and cottage industries that would benefit from the Black Mountain Forestry Center.

After three years of extensive investigation, a board was established with the help of Whatcom County Parks, Crown Pacific, and other community dignitaries. In the summer of 1999, work began on the Gerdrum Homestead at Silver Lake Park.

Wayne, our father and community leader, suddenly passed away Oct. 4, 1999. His immediate family, friends and the community have pulled together, strongly supporting his dream of the Black Mountain Forestry Center in order to bring it into reality.

Our grand opening, the "World of Wood Festival" was held on Memorial Day Weekend 2000, thanks to Whatcom County Parks, Crown Pacific, and many volunteers. With great pride, community members have generously volunteered their time to develop the wonderful idea of tourism and non-biased education in the hopes of keeping our logging heritage alive.

We are currently pursuing grants and other sources of funding as a necessary vehicle to make this possible. With everyone's support, we look forward to uniting a community and preserving our heritage, pride, and along with it, educate people about our valuable renewable resource.

Most graciously,

The Beech Family
Danna Beech, Bethnie Beech-Morrison, Andy Beech, Becky Beech-Raney