Katahdin Cedar Log Homes Hosts Presque Isle Building & Drafting Students May 8, 2007

Students learn how building construction works in the 'real world'

Drafting and building trades students from Presque Isle Regional Career Technology Center see how cedar logs are finished in the house manufacturing line at Katahdin Cedar Log homes in Oakfield.

OAKFIELD, Maine, May 8, 2007 – Thirty&ndah;nine students from Presque Isle Regional Career Technology Center toured Katahdin Cedar Log Homes on Wednesday, May 2, to learn about manufacturing log homes. Juniors and seniors from Jim Ouellette's building trades class and Cameron Adams' drafting and autoCAD class toured the mills, kilns and computerized house manufacturing line during the day trip.

"Since most of our employees come from Northern Maine, we find it extremely valuable to show these young people how the real world works in building construction," said David Gordon, president of Katahdin Cedar Log Homes. "Several of our young summer part–time workers have gone on to join the company full–time." Gordon acted as tour guide for the group and arranged for one of the planing mills to shut down briefly so that the students could safely view the equipment.

"The students really enjoyed the house line," said Ouellette. "They were able to see how the computerized and human components worked together to ensure quality in the final product. It was valuable for them to know that there are some things that computers just can't yet do," he added.

The students build small structures as class projects, but the biannual visits to Katahdin help them to see the big picture. "For these students, it's really fun to see a completed log home," Ouellette added.

Founded in 1973 by Foster Gordon and two associates, Katahdin Cedar Log Homes is one of the largest log home manufacturers in the U.S. and is the largest processor of Northern white cedar in the world. David Gordon continues his father's legacy by providing high quality, cedar log homes at affordable prices. Based in Oakfield, Maine, Katahdin Cedar Log Homes is a division of Katahdin Forest Products and has more than 100 employees.

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