An archive of Henry E. Hardtner and the Urania Lumber Company
History
Henry E. Hardtner
Henry Ernest Hardtner was born on September 10, 1870 in Pineville, Louisiana to parents of German descent. Today, he is known as the "father of forestry in the south" due to his widely known contributions to forestry and reforestation practices.
In his early years, Hardtner worked for his father, E.J. Hardtner's, sawmill business before attending college in New Orleans, Louisiana. He then began operating sawmills near Alexandria, Louisiana, in a location that Hardtner named "Urania," a word which translates to "heavenly" because of how beautiful the land was. Hardtner's business quickly became named the Urania Lumber Company.
After purchasing a decent amount of land, Hardtner focused his time and dedication to studying and pioneering forestry practices. He observed the benefits of regrowing a second crop of trees after the first crop had been harvested. He also realized the advantages of allowing smaller trees to grow to full size before harvesting them. Hardtner also developed and implemented ways to keep trees safe from fires and invading animals. Henry E. Hardtner was among the first to use some of the forestry techniques that are essential to those in the industry today. Because he was the first to discover, use, and share many of these methods, he was rightfully given the title of the "father of forestry in the south," and is known as Louisiana's first conservationist.
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Photograph of Henry E. Hardtner from Louisiana State Archives
"I was born in the forests and have had close association with them since childhood. What I know of them cannot be learned in schools or colleges. To me, they are as human [beings], and I know the trees as I try to know men" - Henry E. Hardtner
Henry E. Hardtner, the "father of forestry in the south"
Hardtner also made notable legislative impact as he was a passionate advocate for Louisiana Act 113, a law which created a state department of forestry, helped take measures to prevent forest fires, called for the reforestation of empty land, and asked for public schools to educate students on forestry. He even attended a White House Conservation Conference called by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 with Governor Blanchard of Louisiana. When the state of Louisiana became the first to create a commission on the conservation of natural resources, Hardtner was appointed chairman. Hardtner also founded the Louisiana Forestry Association.
Additionally, Hardtner supported other forestry organizations, such as Yale University School of Forestry and the United States Forest Service, and invited forestry students to visit Urania Lumber Company lands for training and experience in the field.
Hardtner had an extensive political career. He went on to be elected state representative, serving from 1910-1912, during which he constantly pushed for conservation laws. In 1921, he was part of a convention that rewrote Louisiana's Constitution. He was a state senator for four years, beginning in 1924, and ran as a Republican for the House of Representatives. He also served as president of La Salle Parish's Police Jury. However, while holding various political positions, one thing that remained true for Hardtner was his love and dedication to forestry.