Log driving -- Maine -- Machias River

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

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 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 1904 Frank Dowling, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, March 8 and October 3, 1986, Machias, Maine. Dowling discusses his experiences working in the woods and on river drives along the Machias; work for the Machias Lumber Company in the early 1900s; running logs down Third Lake; supper while running logs and description of a baker; definitions of log-running terminology; seeing Haley’s Comet in 1910; importance of releasing correct amount of water from dams; hemlock bark used to tan...

Abstract

0679 Harold Stuart, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives on July 27, 1971, in Machias, Maine. Interview with Harold Stuart about life in the lumber woods along the Union and Machias Rivers; work in lumber mills; stories about George Magoon, and Wilbur Day, poachers, and Calvin Graves. Text: 72 pp. transcript. Recording: mfc_na0679_na0680_t0388_01, mfc_na0679_na0680_t0388_02, mfc_na0679_t0387_01, mfc_na0679_t0387_02 [T 0386 - T 0387 / CD 2052 - CD 2054]. 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:...

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:...

Abstract 1905 Irving Bangs, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, March 8, 1986, Machias, Maine. Bangs discusses his experiences working in the woods along the Machias River beginning in the late 1930s; driving logs using a splash-dam; driving boom logs; how he began scaling; surveying work as mediating a fight; building roads to transport pulpwood; French-Canadians as good workers; no need to replant because seedlings were left standing; skidders as wasteful; introduction of chain saws and problems...

Abstract 1905 Irving Bangs, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, March 8, 1986, Machias, Maine. Bangs discusses his experiences working in the woods along the Machias River beginning in the late 1930s; driving logs using a splash-dam; driving boom logs; how he began scaling; surveying work as mediating a fight; building roads to transport pulpwood; French-Canadians as good workers; no need to replant because seedlings were left standing; skidders as wasteful; introduction of chain saws and problems...

Abstract 1924 Lowell Vose, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, May 18, 1986, Harrington, Maine. Vose discusses his driving experience on the Machias River; hiring on with the Machias Lumber Company and walking upriver; location of the Main River camp; working in the rear; two-log rafts; moving logs in booms on lakes; clothing and getting wet; camping along the river at night; predominance of local men, including Indians (Native Americans); his brief time working in the mill; specific jobs in the...

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

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: 39 pp. transcript Recording: C 0245 – C 0246 1 hour 10 mins

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 1907 Richard Gaddis, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, March 10, 1986, in East Machias, Maine. Gaddis discusses working along the Machias River, particularly with his family lumbering and blueberry business; log driving; explanation of photographs and documents; wages in the 1930s; use of housing on horses; logging season dictated by need for frozen lakes and ground; construction of woods camps; use of both horses and tractors; sizes of wood desired; company supplying horses and tools;...

Abstract 1911 Robert Wright, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, March 12 and October 6, 1986, Machias, Maine. Wright talks about his experiences driving and supervising the final years of Machias River drives; quantities of logs; dates for river drives; job positions in a woods camp; location of dams; the ‘Driving Rock’ in the Machias River; names of river branches; splash dams on small streams; tradition of eating four meals daily; reasons for the end of river driving; scows; the fun of riding...

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....