The Hack Boss
On U.S. Highway 287/89 between Moran Junction & Dubois

Tie cutting on the Wind River started in 1914. Martin Olson became foreman of all woods operations in 1916. Ricker Van Metre, of Chicago, formed the Wyoming Tie and Timber Company in 1926 and hired Martin Olson as Woods Boss.

Martin, a Norwegian, was a veteran tie hack of Wyoming’s pine forest. He started with a crew of 20 men who turned out 100,000 ties his first year as foreman. The crew grew each year, reinforced by young, woodswise immigrants from Norway, Sweden and other European countries, until 100 hacks were in the woods.

Martin Olson was held in respect. He had a way of getting the best from any man. He was boss, also a leader. He worked with, cajoled, humored, mothered or drove any hack that got out of line. Martin’s ability as Woods Boss was measured by the number of ties out and delivered to the railhead at Riverton, Wyoming.

After supervising tie hacks and the drives for 31 years, Olson retired in 1947, when the Wyoming Tie and Timber Company was sold to the J. N. (Bud) Fisher Tie and Timber Company. The change of ownership brought new ideas and methods to the timber industry, marking the end of the tie hack era.

Lydia Olson, widow of Martin Olson, furnished the photographs and many of the historical facts presented here at the Tie Hack Memorial.