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In 1908 the Adams River Lumber Company established the third largest sawmill in the Interior of British Columbia. Men were housed in logging camps in the Adams Lake area. Flumes, dams and spillways transported the logs to Shuswap Lake to be towed to the mill at Chase, British Columbia. The boom town of Chase grew almost overnight as people flocked to the area seeking employment and other opportunities. An economic downturn in 1925 prompted the Company to close its doors forever. Nevertheless, the new community struggled on.
The demise of the Company created different opportunities for residents who chose to remain in the area. The local timber was suitable for the production of telephone and hydro poles as well as rail ties and fence posts, allowing small independent portable mills employing handfuls of men to spring up. These small operations aided in the survival of the local communities during the Depression and other lean years. Finally, in 1945 the Holding Lumber Company was established at Adams Lake which increased the population base and provided steady economic growth.
Throughout the years, the forest industry has played a significant role in sustaining many communities in the Shuswap region. Today Adams Lake Lumber, a division of International Forest Products, is a major employer in the western Shuswap area. Current environmentally responsible industry practices have resulted in the successful rejuvenation of the sockeye salmon spawning levels.
