Nick Ranco, interviewed by Lucinda Lamb
Scope and Contents
The Argyle Boom Collection consists of approximately seventy-five hours of tape recorded interviews (now digitized). The interviews deal with Argyle Boom, which was one of several locations at which logs that had been cut upriver and floated or “driven” down the Penobscot River were sorted before being sent on to the lumber mills in Old Town, Orono, Veazie, Bangor, and Brewer, Maine, from approximately 1900 to 1930. The material includes interviews with people who had worked on the boom and essays on various aspects of boom construction and operation and the daily lives of the workers.
Dates
- 1973-1975
Creator
- From the Collection: Ives, Edward D. (Interviewer, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
For digitized items free from access restrictions, we are working to upload this material (pdfs, mp3s, jpgs) for public access, but it is an ongoing project. If you don’t find what you are looking for here, contact Special Collections (um.library.spc@maine.edu).
Extent
From the Collection: 31 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Abstract
Nick Ranco, interviewed by Lucinda Lamb, November 21, 1975, for a class project, at Ranco’s house on Indian Island, Maine. Ranco talks about his work on the river which he worked “all his life”: the Argyle log-sorting boom on the Penobscot River; construction and operation of the booms; French, Bangor and Indian crews worked different sections; living conditions; meals; jams; rafts; salvaging rafting poles and rope to sell; leisure activities. Recording is in English. The interview part of a project that led to an issue of Northeast Folklore, XVII: “Argyle Boom.”
- Cookery -- Maine Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Franco-Americans -- Maine -- Social life and customs Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Log driving -- Maine -- Penobscot River Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lumber camps -- Maine Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lumbermen -- Maine -- Social life and customs Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Repository Details
Part of the Northeast Archives of Folklore and Oral History Repository
5729 Raymond H. Fogler Library
University of Maine
Orono ME 04469-5729 United States
207.581.1686
