RUSTY STUMPS SCALE MODELS

 

The Wharf

(photo by kind permission of Rusty Stumps)

The WHARF is the third of six kits in the Kelley's Landing series. Only 200 of each kit will be made.

 

 

The Wharf originally started out as just a small dock sticking out into the Fall Creek flow. This was even before Jack Kelley had built the first building at Kelley's Landing. All Jack had at the time was a large tent but big ideas. But just about the time he built the First Boarding House Jack also built the first Wharf. It wasn't as big as the present day Wharf and it also didn't have a rail spur but it did service the small hand pushed barges that would occasionally stop to drop off supplies.

Around 1898 the first Boarding House burned down. The stories vary but it seems there was a fight in the bar and an oil lamp got knocked over and lit the fire. There was no fire department and most of the guests were so far under the weather, drink wise, that none thought to get buckets of water from the creek until the building was a pile of glowing embers. So around 1900 Jack built the present day Boarding House and at the same time the old and dilapidated Wharf was replaced with the present 127 foot one. Also at this time the Fall Creek Lumber company was in full swing and they ran a spur track down from the mill to haul various loads brought in by steam barge back up to the camps and the mill.

The Wharf is totally constructed from strip wood. It sets on 9 sets of piles and beams. These beam assemblies are topped with 2x10 joists running the length of the Wharf and are topped with a 2x10 decking that runs front to back with the back edge butting the side of the spur track rail. Both the Wharf decking and the rail are the same height. The area between the rails is filled with timbers and the ground on the street side is level with the top of the rails. With this it's easy to push loaded wagons both to and from the wharf to the businesses in the area.

 

[ Back ]