Over time it expanded to include operations in Biron, Stevens Point, Whiting, Appleton and Port Arthur, Ontario.
In 1888, the Centralia Pulp and Water Power Company began operations 2.5 miles down river from the Grand Rapids, expanding to making paper in 1891.
In 1942, the Du Bay hydroelectric plant was completed, providing additional power for company expansion.
[5] During World War II, the company developed exceptionally strong plastics from wood byproducts for use in airplanes.
[5] By 1951, the company had completed hydroelectric power sites at Petenwell and Castle Rock,[5] while also building the Mead Inn.
[6] Throughout the 1950s, the company continued to focus on coated paper, remaining a leader in the process through technological innovation.
[10] With an ongoing capital program and fiscal discipline, the company was able to remain strong despite its relatively small size.
[14] Throughout the 1990s, the company was listed in the Fortune 500 Largest U.S. Industrial Corporations and owned over 600,000 acres of forest land.
[18] The late 1990s saw decreased earnings, due to rising pulp cost, global overcapacity and foreign competition.