From stump to ship: A 1930 logging film
ARC Identifier 13585 / Local Identifier 95.287 - Department of Agriculture. Forest Service. Division of State and Private Forestry. Fire and Aviation Management Staff. (1986) - 1930 - The long log drive: a spring journey down icy streams and rivers moving logs from the forest to the mill for sawing into boards, laths, and clapboards. For more than 150 years, logging techniques remained the same. Men cut trees by hand and loaded them on horse-drawn sleds to be hauled over snow to the river. Skilled river drivers maneuvered the logs downstream, risking their limbs and lives every day. This film survives as a record of the long log business. Highly detailed scenes, filmed year-round, are uniquely enhanced by the original script, written to be read with the silent footage in the 1930s. The soundtrack is brought to life by Tim Sample, narrator and renowned Maine humorist, in the role of the filmmaker, Alfred Ames. - Copied by Thomas Gideon
Spent a few years "cleaning up" after these power houses diving in Moosehead lake Maine for the saw logs that sank and didn't make the mills. We pulled up some corkers. Axe cut maple 30 inches at the stump, beautiful figured birch and lots of relics, boom chains to peeves and much more. Shipped several railcars of the prettiest wood you've ever seen to Wisconsin. Great experience.
That’s very friggin cool, thanks for sharing. I’ve got half a mind to make the trek up from Portsmouth nh and go do some diving myself.
@@Spaceman_spliff Moosehead has some good diving. Ask around the locals can put you on some spots.
I just ran across this in 2022 I absolutely memorized me… That’s when men were men… Loved the man accent and his love for all his workers… Thanks for whoever put this on KZhead
Love these old videos. I have deeply respect for all the hard working people, well, men. They sure were tough skinned. No whining, working insane conditions, cold, heat. Danger everywhere. Respect.
Not sure how I got here but sure glad I watched. A awesome TRUE step back in time. If KZhead had a best list, this should top the list!
As a 27 year old chairmaker who starts with logs and ends with chairs (Windsors and ladderbacks) that apprenticed to be a chairmaker in midcoast Maine, this video is 11/10 friggin amazing. Maine was a wild place to be alive in the early 1900’s and earlier.
A fantastic look at the past. Every young person should see this movie and appreciate what it took to make a living in the 1930s.
Not everyone lived like this in the 30s, don't be stupid.
@@davin1287 Please tell me more.
Agreed that it’s a great look at the past, it looks amazing. However their wages were far more in line with the average cost of living than what we see today. There’s no comparison to be made. Also there are definitely many jobs that still exist today that are as difficult and as strenuous.
This is a national treasure...hope the National Archive has a copy.
While hunting in the north woods of Maine I have stood on stumps cut with two man bucks and followed an old gouge from a log dragged thru the woods to the edge of a small stream by a team of horses and my imagination brought me along the journey much the same as this video did. Thanks for posting it!
A film to show children what work was and a hard life their forebearer,s had.Real people in a real world.
watching in 2018...I build a log home in 1994 by hand...I didnt know about PeeVees. peeled 5,000 feet of logs. and used a chainsaw...I have collected many old log tools...they use a ferrel saw horizontily back then...and a buck saw vertically...cross cut buck!...men were men then! I had great help by a man named Brad...he was a forester and Vikng by heritage. love the tree!!! Pine sol in my blood!!! no greater craft that is so dangerous and rewarding ..a Art in every sense...the toppers died more then any other job or craft..."widow makers"! I sooo appreciated this film!!!
I'm sure that the gentleman who made this film would be so tickled to know we're all watching this in 2015 - and standing in awe at their work! Love it, just love it. Best parts: hard work, people everywhere, and that the narrator honours every worker by their full name!
This video has great historical significance. This is especially so because since the Industrial Revolution started around 1800 "history" began to accelerate almost beyond comprehension. Whole industries, and with it many unique job roles, came and went. Many completely disappeared into "history" almost without notice. It is only through seemingly obscure and seemingly trivial old films like this one that they are kept alive in our cultural memory for future generations to appreciate. ... jkulik919@gmail.com
2020😎
My grand father had this film on VHS back in The late 80s. I watched it several times, and now I'm glad it's found it way to KZhead 30 years later. Good memories.
I wish they took forest conservation more seriously back then.
2022
I am watching this on February 1, 2022 and am sooo impressed with it! Thanks for all the great comments below!
I spent thirteen months in Viet Nam with a wind up eight millimeter camera. In all that time, I think I probably took four or five, five or ten minute films. This guy,, thirty years before me, managed to record a cohesive, long and carefully made film. He must have been a genius, and a serious man!
Fascinating history.
It’s amazing what two hauses can haul to the yaad.
Yea two hauses can twitch quite a load back to the yaad
My great great grandfather was a camp carpenter for a logging company, his son my great grandfather was a camp cookie. This was back in the logging days of Michigan. Thank you for such a wonderful video.
September 9, 1968 at 11 O'clock at night I walked the gang plank out onto the "Queen Mary Log Sorter" on the Kennebec River Log Drive in Winslow, Maine. This video was 38 years prior but brings back a lot of memories of working the drives.
A MUST see for all interested in this fascinating endeavor....The World of Logging !!
Still standing in awe of their work, for sure. And what impresses me most is that the narrator spoke of every man as a man that he knew, he spoke of the fact that they all owned their own homes, they ate together, worked together. there is a sense of respect and pride for the man and the work and the community which is sorely lacking today.
Andrew, very keen observation .
I enjoy watching these old logging videos I was a logger for 30 years I miss it to
At 8:28 the young man watches the elder man take his hat off and follows his example...never in 2021 lol
This footage is truly priceless!
Almost as priceless as the old growth forests these logs came from.
Thank you for working your tail off to build America. There's something to be said for getting out of high school and working for 5 years or so. No play just work and become a great American and not a whinny need a new iphone mine got a scratch.
It's amazing how he speaks of walking the river for the first time in 1879, at first I thought he said 1979 and had to Rewind...but it is so amazing that the man speaking on this recording had lived through the more lawless times of American history and now is video recording his work in 1930, it must be an amazing feeling to be able to record video for personal use like this after living most of his life in a slightly more primitive America , very cool.
Lawless in 1879, are you kidding America has so many laws now, the more laws, the more corrupt the government is. No more corrupt than in 2020, I would go back to 1879 in a heart beat, the freedom to be a man in 1879 what dream.
I have to disagree back then people still lived and followed biblical principles, unlike today. This is still a younger America when people believe in hard work and the American dream. Nowadays they sit on their ass and collect welfare. I would love to live in a pre-1960s America before it became a shit hole of illegal immigrants who hate this country but take everything they'd can from it.
Image that, his father was managing the mill since 1858 and that was before the American Civil War when lumber was in great demand. Also note, not one of the workers are wearing gloves, splinters galore.
4 meals a day 😊 they deserve it 😅 keep your crew happy 😊 and they will never let you down 😊❤
My Gramps and his brother picked up where this old timer left off. Late 30s Steam pony ran the sawmill, hand saws in the bush, whole families lived in logging/ sawmill camp 7 months of year. They ran 30 men, horses brought in the logs. 3 ton trucks hauled sawn lumber to railhead or town 60 miles. Then came tractors, cats and diesel power after the war. Norther east Sask., Canada. Torch river and north of Saskatchewan River.
The gist of the story is..many land owners, and timber men DID take forest conservation seriously back then. The repeated harvest of marketable timber on this companies tracts clearly tells that story. My father, grandfathers on both sides, uncles and cousins have been timbering in the main woods for at least 150 years, probably longer. It is only most recently, the last 50 years say, that the practice of clear cutting and follow-up re-planting of inferior species has left vast areas of the north woods in sad shape. Even so, there are still, and again, many efforts to protect the environment and it’s inhabitants. The woods are the only real source of income for millions of north-woods folk, and they proudly strive to keep them healthy and productive.
Brilliant little doco and his cinematic skills were pretty good. Up at 4 work all day till dusk, tough hard life, imagine trying to find enough men of that quality nowadays.
Great video, the man made this video like he did his work, no nonsense or fluff! These men could feel good that they did honest real work, God Bless all of them!
Rip to the men in this video. Such a great generation
What a look into the past! Teamwork and so many different skill sets required to not only be productive but to not get smooshed a hundred different ways. “Note the steam coming off the horses”
I am ignorant when it comes to horses. I didn't know they could haul that kinda load. Impressive.
To those questioning the accent: That is a genuine Maine accent.
True!
The accent in most Stephen King movies
My aunt is from South Boston when she came to California I could barely understand what she was saying. Ive had to ask her what she meant more than once over the years.😂😂😂
Its Tim Sample!
@@McLainACS1978 The accent they attempt in Steven King movies.
This is a wonderful history lesson. Thanks to all responsible for getting this on KZhead.
I dont know any of these people but I like that he spoke of peoples names and pointed them out -- I am sure some family member who may not even know this video exists may find them some day
My great grandfather, Erville Palmer and his father, did this sort of work, over in Bristol Maine.
I'd love to see the men on those logging reality shows trying to keep up with these men.
Jim Marcum Its what you eat. All the processed/canned foods fast food of today. They lack the quantities of needed vitamins and minerals. Those food pyramids and recommended daily values are what you need to simply survive, not to live to your full potential. What we eat is killing us slowly.
Bruce Skakle and rrrtttfggyyyyyyy
just go look up the AVERAGE lifespan of people now vs then
@Jim Marcum Your "facts" are reversed. The average lifespan now is MUCH longer than ever. Your small example in no way lines up with the average.
Great old picture. For 46 years I worked for the Pacific Lumber Co at Scotia, CA. It was chartered in Maine.
Enthralling, a superb historical document
I lived outside Machias, in Cutler in ‘66-67. I found this film very very interesting, and got an idea of the labor, skill, and character of the loggers and mill workers. I hope to watch it again, soon.
Very good, A old lumber company man lived next to me when I was 6+ years. WOW. He had a shed full of the old cross cut, and more. Axes 🪓 Too. All types. Thanks 😊
I could watch that kind of stuff all day. Although logging in those days was fraught with danger it seems the employees were well looked after, four dinners a day sounds alright to me, with the strenuous nature of the work (no chain saws in that film) they would need a terrific intake of calories to keep going. Thanks for posting this, absolutely fascinating - Rog
And these were not heavy muscled men by any means, average men with the strength of a horse!!!
Loved the history. My family camp in Central Ontario, Canada is on land just like this. The river that runs near the lake was used for river drives, with a water powered sawmill at the dam. Dad used to take me exploring in it after it shut down. Six foot circular in that one. I remember the smell today- pine, leather, oil and sweat. If you’ve ever met a mill worker you’ll know what I mean, and it’s not unpleasant. Our land was clearcut in the 20’s, burned bare by a railway caused fire. Today we’ve white pine three feet at the stump. The second or third harvest is being taken all around the province.
Wow, I could picture my ancestors doing this. Thank you for sharing this great video.
What a great documentary. And by one of the men who worked and lived in logging. How fantastic! And now, after almost a century Iater, somebody from the Netherlands (Europe) is watching this awesome, astonishing movie!
Even now us Dutch are looking
Outstanding historical gem and always enjoy seein the draft horses and teamstas! Amazing to see so much mechanization in 1930 as well!
Great historical movie. Kudos for the restoration and keeping our history alive. Remarkable!
Incredible! I’m glad this has been preserved for future generations to see
Men were indeed men in those days.Did you see any of those loggers appear to be overweight?No.Not one.Their work kept them in top shape.And their daily caloric intake was 5000-6000 calories.I have nothing but the highest respect for those men.
they got no union breakes no. brakes at all !!
@@charliemartin5482 have you watched this video at all? 4 breakfast, 9 first lunch, 2 second lunch. So jobs require you to always be on top of things you take breaks when you can.
It’s 2020 (pandemic) and its fascinating still. Really enjoyed it. Thank you
I noticed some comments about accents below. I am old enough to remember knowing where people grew up by their accent. Accents are disappearing now or becoming more subtle. So much so, that "millennials" are unfamiliar with regional speech when they encounter it. Maybe that explains why some commenters don't understand older regional vocab and accents. Just an opinion.
this was just fantastic, what a historical treasure, thanks for posting!
Second breakfast, second lunch, its really a thing!
Never forget the past!!
well they got things done and sleep well at nite time . i spent 30 years doing this was rewarding worked at the last steam mill in Cailf.
I hope you know we all appreciate your hard work :) Not everyone could do what you did.
Nice going Gary!
Gary Van Patten lpdkkfokd
Awesome. Hope all is well.
My Dad was a teamster in the 30's in the eastern townships of Southern Quebec. That's basically the same place with similar timber as Machias ME. At a dollar a day for him and a dollar a day for his team of horses with room and board for both he was making better money than we can today. With $12 dollars a week he was putting $10 dollars a week in the bank. People lived a lot simpler then....no frills.
@phục êwê fuck off you haven't got a clue what he's talking about.
What a fantastic bit of history! Thanks for the video.
Fantastic history! Thank you Mr. Ames! Thank you Mr. Sample for the pleasant narration!
Excellent comments below that express the value of such a historic film that has been preserved in someones archive, thanks for the upload.
A great piece of history! Thanks for sharing, I'll be showing this to my kids !
Would like to see this digitized again this time in focus. The details would add so much to the preservation of the record! Thanks for sharing this!
I like that he knows all of their names.
He’s was probably one of them at some point.
Absolutely amazing historical video!!! Thank you for posting
Thanks for the upload, great film.
History preserved thank you
Thank you so much to share this video. Simply it is a window to the past! Who tells it is not possible time travel? :)
I would describe myself as an environmentalist (even a bit of a tree-hugger). You are completely correct. Simply harvest at a rate slower than growth and it's all good. :)
this film is a gem, un vrai bijou
This is History Saved. Thank You
2019 anybody in 2019? 😕
late 1800s thru early 1900s always interesting history in woodland operations.
👍
present
Just made it . . . in 2019 !!
ocsteved 2020
One heck of a great video. I am impressed as I did this kind of work on the skagit river in the fifties, I hope this film is preserved
The loggers floated timber down the various rivers in the north woods until 1970 or so. The Golden road was built around that time so they could run trucks up there eaiser
Amazing historical film.
What a delightful film. Seems like almost a lost art.
Bloody marvellous film. What a bottler.
AWESOME video! Thanks for sharing!
Wow what a wonderful look into the past.
THANK YOU
Amazing efforts by the workers. Very nice film. Thanks for posting. I am in awe of the workers.
Awsome real history. I can only dream of being as tough as these men. Luca
What a great watch. That was an incredible documentation such great and detailed narration
Great piece of history
Very good.Thank you
thank you
Just watched this today after a visit to the Patten Lumberman's museum a few weeks ago!
These guys are still alive today and still log the old fashioned way too.
what an absolute gem.......................Thankyou
A nice time documentation. It could have been filmed in north Sweden as well. As a member of a sailing club with a three mast schooner, it's interesting to se when the era of the sail ended, as they say: sail meets steam. Thanks for making YT better.
Just like a pie from church suppah!
I got a kick out of that as well. Not just any pie....
That accent made it to our southern shore in nova scotia and is still as strong today!
cant agree more, well said
I think it's cool how he knows every person by first and last name with the place they are from back when people truly cared
brilliant!
My great grandfather did such work in Arkansas after going on his own at the age of 14.
Thank You :)
I have such fond memories of maine,ayuh
Great work !
Now this was logging! I’m in the last of the hand cutters in my area with a chainsaw and small forwarder, this way is long gone, we still find remnants of old operations once in awhile on blocks being cut a second or third time
Great look at the old days
That was great!! 👍
when the air was fresh and the water was clean
If only pollution hadn't already taken hold by 1930. Chicago by 1930 was getting sued by other cities for pollution of the river. By 1911 it was worthy of stories in the papers: www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-per-flashback-bubbly-0626-2-20110625-story.html Long term "fog" of poison chemicals kills many in the lovely Meuse valley: www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(00)04135-0/abstract Etc. etc. etc.
Both are cleaner today. As an added plus, the horse manure isn't inches deep in NYC, either. You know how all those brownstones are a half-flight up? That's so that the horse crap wouldn't ooze into the living area every rain!
They stopped floating logs down the river in the 1970s because the concentration of wood polluted the river and killed the fish. Rivers like the Kennebec held very few fish in the 1970s.
@Big Bill O'Reilly Wow. I am swayed by your impeccable use of rhetoric...;-)
@@StevenHoober During the 1850's and 1860's, Chicago streets, sidewalks and buildings were physically raised on Jackscrews. As a temporary solution to problem of sewage, pollution and disease.