Lombard Log Hauler

[BrokenTrack]

I was hoping to post this in the Lombard Log Hauler section, but there does not seem to be one like John Deere, New Holland, Kubota or Kioti. (LOL)

A few years ago the family went to Maine Logging Days at Lenard Woods and there they rebuilt a Steam Lombard Log Hauler. Their philosophy is, it took donations from Maine people to rebuild it, so they are going to let Mainer's enjoy it. In that way they give rides and let people steer it if they wish. They asked me, so I said sure so that is me in the photos. Kind of a fun for sure as it is not often you get to operate a 100 year old tractor.

 

[teg]

That's pretty cool... Heck of a start for you on TBN!!! You definitely got the memo, "we like photos!!!" :dance1:

 

[s219]

Very cool, I love old machines like that, especially anything to do with logging.

 

[motownbrowne]

That's awesome!! Thanks for posting!

 

[Doofy]

Nice story, great photos!

 

[BrokenTrack]

Very cool, I love old machines like that, especially anything to do with logging.

I hear you. I am actually thinking about helping out with that organization as like you, I have a love of old things logging. They have a lot of exhibits, don't get me wrong, but thing they lack in terms of history and exhibition space, is the making of charcoal. I got into making charcoal, and thought this might be a good spot to help them out. I go to a new church now, but half my old church helps out there so it is not like I do not know anyone at the venue.

As for being on here; yes I am new, but should you ever get to Maine, I would gladly buy you a coffee and shake your hand. You seem like a really nice guy (not that all the others on here do not seem to be likewise).

 

[s219]

Your part of Maine is really in the thick of US logging history, in fact it may have the richest logging history in the US based on my limited knowledge of book history. My dad grew up in Maine so I heard about a lot of that when I was a kid. I haven't been back up that way since the 1990s but definitely want to take my own family up there for vacation some year.

An interesting connection is that when I began living in the mid-Atlantic and traveling to West Virginia, it turns out they have a very rich logging history too, with many of the same nicknames for tools and equipment that I heard about in Maine. In the mountainous parts of WV, they did a lot of logging with trains ("Shays") of various sizes and there is a lot of railroad history mixed in with the logging history. Someday when I retire, I'd like to travel around and see/learn more about that stuff.

By pure coincidence, the property we bought in VA has a lot of logging history going back to the 1800s. We find a lot of artifacts, often whiskey bottles and bottles/cans of various oil products, but some tools, and I talked with a local who knew about the various times the land had been logged since the early 1900s, and knew how to interpret some of the history in stumps. The recent timber is a mix of native hardwood sections and loblolly pine that was planted in the 1990s and is in need of thinning, which I hope to begin next year. Anyhow, one of the artifacts we found was a piece of an old Peavey cant hook, and of course Peavey is located up in Maine and a big part of logging history themselves. When it came time to order some tools for myself, I was happy to find they are still in business making great tools, and bought a new cant hook and bark spud from them.

 

[BrokenTrack]

Oh sure, I have sold wood to Peavy before. They only take the best of the best Ash though...

My family kind of started out in logging. Long story short, like a lot of people (10% of the population), I can trace my lineage back to the Mayflower and of course Cambridge. Cambridge is home to Harvard College and back in the late 1600's, they had their own ship that sailed from Cambridge, MA to Belfast, Me where they cut wood along the shores and hauled it back...they had 157 fireplaces to keep stocked with firewood after all. On one of those trips, a family member decided to stay in Maine.

During the French and Indian Wars, at the Luisburge Siege, my Great Grandfather lost his life in battle, and so for our loss, his father who also served the King, was granted land here in Maine. That was the official start of this farm, 1746. Hardly loyal, we switched sides in the American Revolution and was allowed to keep what we had and thus have been here ever since.

Sadly logging is dead here now. The paper mills are gone, down from 145 in New England in 1947, to just 6 in the State of Maine today. None are in New Hampshire or Vermont. One of the reasons I retired was because I had so much land tied up in wood that was just losing value everyday. In the last 3 years my woodlot has lost 1/3 of its value. While expensive to do, clearing land into agricultural use ultimately makes more money. With property taxes so high, a person has to do something now.

 

[tcreeley]

Leonard Mills is another great logging museum - in Bradley. There was a gentleman- Paul Atwood who designed much of it- the water wheel, dam, holding pond, upright saw blade. (Since passed.) I used to go and help out at different times. - Further north, beyond Brownville is the Katahdin Ironworks and they had a an old charcoal making kiln. - I read it held 50 cords at a time and burnt (smoldered) for a week!

Just last fall I drove over to Peaveys and picked up a Katahdin pickeroon with a 36" handle. Well made! I use it to pick up firewood for the bucket and stove. - Too stiff to bend anymore!

 

[Jstpssng]

I'm a little late to the show, but that must have been a lot of fun. Have you ever visited the engines on Chesuncook Lake?
The Eagle Lake & West Branch Railroad: History: Discover History & Explore Nature: State Parks and Public Lands: Maine ACF