Lumbering -- Maine -- Machias

Abstract 1913 Adin R. McKeown, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, March 13 – May 24, 1986, Crawford, Maine. McKeown discusses his experiences working in the woods and on drives along the Machias River; founding of Sullivan’s lumber business; salvaging burnt timber; shared drives between Sullivan’s and Machias Lumber Company; towing log booms on lakes; playing baseball when wind was unfavorable; importance of dams and water levels; pay in the late 1910s; tasks of a road monkey; description of a...

Abstract 1927 Charles Cunningham, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, May 20, 1986, in Machias, Maine. Cunningham discusses his work as a saw filer in the Machias Lumber Company mill; the difference between braising and welding; frequency of saw teeth breaking; what caused a saw tooth to break; frequency of changing blades in various saws; demonstration of sharpening a saw; shaper and swage; saws used in the Whitneyville mill; and his sharpening business in 1986. Text: 23 pp. transcript....

Abstract

1937 Charles Dowling, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, 1986, Bangor, Maine. 4 pp. Tape: 1 hr. Dowling describes his experiences on the Machias River drives and working in the woods. Also some talk of hunting and fishing. Text: 1 pp. brief index, no transcript found. Recording: T 1944 1 hour.

Abstract 1929 Donald McLellan, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, May 22, 1986, in South Princeton, Maine. McLellan talks about working in the Machias Region woods as an independent operator; use of trucks 1946-47; pay rates in the mid-late 1940s; how he worked as an independent operator; hauling logs; accidents in the woods; his cutting arrangements; dishonesty in scaling; pay in the mid-1930s; making homemade snowshoes out of barrel staves; spring poles; where he sold his lumber; introduction...

Abstract 1942 Earl Bonness, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, October 5, 1986, Grand Lake Stream, Maine. Bonness discusses his experiences working in the woods and river-driving along the Machias in the 1920s; moving the wangan; species of trees cut; Wilbur Day; a falling wedge and how it was used; murder of two game wardens by Calvin Graves; a drowning during a river drive; living conditions in a woods camp; method of dogging deer; old-time drivers who didn’t know how to swim; and making...

Abstract

1930 Francis Handy, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, 1986, Machias, Maine. Tape: no cat. or trans. Handy describes and discusses photographs of Machias, Machias Lumber Co. and sawmill. Text: no catalog or transcript. Recording: C 0436, C 0439. Photos: P 6167 - P 6194, P 6344 - P 6354.

Abstract 1910 Francis Healy, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, March 11 and October 3, 1986, Machias, Maine. Healy discusses his work in the woods and drives along the Machias River for St. Regis Pulp and Paper; camping out during river drives; blowing up a dam beavers had added to; the ‘Driving Rock’ which was used to tell when the water level was good for driving logs; using 300 pick-poles a season; 100 men working the drive; uselessness of young inexperienced men; road maintenance; building a...

Abstract

1285 Frank S. Dowling, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, August 1979, Jacksonville, Maine. 18 pp. Tape: 2 hrs. w/ cat. Dowling, 90, talks about George Magoon and Wilbur Day; labor conditions along the Machias River; getting old; his own life and childhood. Text: catalog. Recording: mfc_na1285_t1356_01, mfc_na1285_t1356_02 [T 1356]. 2 hours

Abstract 1059 Herbert Hanscom, Sr., interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, May 3, 1976, at Hanscom’s home in Machias, Maine. Hanscom talks about life on the river drives and in the woods; hunting; poaching; George Magoon; Wilbur Day; poachers; the scene of logging from the mills up into Machias along East Machias, Big Machias, and Middle River; hunting with dogs to catch deer and bear; working on a shipyard. Also present: Barbara Hunter, a UMaine student. Text: 6 pp. catalog. Recording:...

Scope and Contents

A volume by an unidentified compiler used to record amounts of lumber shipped from Machias, Maine. Information given includes the names of the vessels used, their destinations, and the amount and type of lumber shipped. The volume also gives an account of lumber sawed at Harwood Mills by Joseph Getchell in 1854-1856.

Abstract 1909 Maurice Berry, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, March 11, 1986, East Machias, Maine. Berry talks about his experiences working in the woods along the Machias River; his father’s cork boots; use of water carts to keep roads iced; stories of Wilbur Day; description of a staddle of hay; woods camp recreation; peeling hemlock; working the water cart; skidding roads; pisaghees and Johnny-jump-ups; how Blasphemy Swamp got its name; and stories about George Magoon. Also included:...

Abstract 1926 Maxwell E. Gray, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, May 19, 1986, Machias, Maine. Gray discusses working in the woods and river-driving along the Machias; moving logs on a frozen lake; cutting logs as best or only work during the Great Depression; earning extra money through poaching; walking to the start of the drive; camping in bush wickets; capstan rafts; temporary rafts; moving logs down Machias Lakes; water as a power source; and dangerous spots of water. Plus 4 pp. story about...

Abstract 1926 Maxwell E. Gray, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, May 19, 1986, Machias, Maine. Gray discusses working in the woods and river-driving along the Machias; moving logs on a frozen lake; cutting logs as best or only work during the Great Depression; earning extra money through poaching; walking to the start of the drive; camping in bush wickets; capstan rafts; temporary rafts; moving logs down Machias Lakes; water as a power source; and dangerous spots of water. Plus 4 pp. story...

Abstract 1906 Orris W. McKeown, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, March 9, 1989, Alexander, Maine. McKeown talks about the winter in the late 1920s he worked on a logging road; keeping the main road clear; construction of woods camp; lack of local men; process of making roads; branch roads and main roads; how to skid a rock and skid a turn; good food fed to workers; tools used to maintain the roads; Wilbur Day; and George Magoon, his grandfather. Text: 23 pp. transcript. Recording: T 1924 45...

Abstract

1925 Philip Armstrong, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, May 23, 1986, Calais, Maine. Armstrong describes working in the woods and river drives along the Machias; driving skid-team; filing saws; trigging in order to pile logs; moving logs on lakes with a capstan; building a tennis court; risks of river-driving; sleeping arrangements during a river drive; city camps (depot camps); and hunting stories. Text: 42 pp. transcript. Recording: C 0245 – C 0246 1 hour 10 mins.

Abstract 1928 Victor Archer, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, May 21, 1986, Machias, Maine. Archer speaks about woods work and river driving along the Machias River; where he drove; moving logs down Fifth Lake; capstan rafts; log jams; driving Fifth Lake Stream; progression of the drive downstream; the unprofitable state of the blueberry business in 1986; spending winters in the woods with his family as a boy; pay rates; Wilbur Day and his autobiography; and John Bacon. Text: 31 pp....