The soda process, invented in 1854, used poplar wood, pre-barked and shipped in four-foot long logs. They were then sliced into small chips, cleaned, and put into large digesters that pressure-cooked the chips.
Once the digesters were full, soda or lye was put in at high heat to reduce the chips to pulp.
The pulp was then strained or dried and sent off to papermakers all over the world. Yarmouth's Forest Paper Company soon became famous for its quality product.
