Arizona Lumber and Timber Company

In 1887 Denis Riordan purchased the Ayer Mill, which had been established in Flagstaff in 1881. Riordan renamed the company the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company and became its first president. His brothers, Michel and Timothy, joined him in Flagstaff to help him with the business. The Arizona Lumber and Timber Company suffered a devastating fire on its first day of operation-July 16, 1887. The reconstruction of the plant saw many innovations which made this lumber company one of the most progressive in the Southwest during the 1890's. The company was incorporated under the laws of the Territory of Arizona on January 1, 1890.

Between 1890 and 1900 the company operated a mill in Clark's Valley (Lake Mary) known as "The Swamp". Timber obtained from this mill was hauled by the company's Central Arizona Railway, to the main mill in Flagstaff, 25 to 30 miles away. In 1900 the company constructed a dam that formed a lake which was named Mary after Timothy Riordan's oldest daughter, Mary.

...