The museum was great but the highlight of our visit was the recreated logging camp where the blacksmith, saw filer, bull cook, clerk and lumberjacks were all in character and hard at work. We saw draft horses demonstrate feats of strength during cross-hauling and jammer shows as lumberjacks load logs onto skids. Unfortunately we "witnessed" a serious accident during this dangerous work. All enacted with appropriate seriousness and inappropriate hilarity. Take a look!
Mrs. T. eyes up a golf cart for a ride down to the logging camp. I suggest it's only a block away down hill and besides golf carts hadn't been invented yet in the early 1890's....
We walk down the hill following the crowd.
The first log building of the camp and then around the bend at
first shouting and then a SCREAM!
OMG! As they were loading those huge logs on the skid, one came off
and crushed a young man "flatter than a pancake.!
Cookie, who feeds over 60 hungry men three meals a day, was as shocked as anyone. Later, I had a chance to ask here if these kinds of accidents happened frequently. "No," she said , but it is dangerous work and well....
On a more positive note the Belgian work horses were both handsome and very strong. Two remain working in the camp and more than twenty were out with the logging crews, we were told.
Later, Mrs. T. gets up close and personal.
And the visit concludes with music and a chat a logger who just happened to have a guitar.
Yes it smelled in the "bunkhouse" with 30 men's underwear but the music was sweet....:)
What fun!
It is an interesting place to visit. Living on the prairie we have very little logging except log cabins. The flattened worker sounds like a great show.
ReplyDeleteIn our neighborhood!! We love the Forest History Center. We haven't been in a while, but have enjoyed some memorable events there over the years. My brother even got married there.
ReplyDeleteIn our neighborhood!! We love the Forest History Center. We haven't been in a while, but have enjoyed some memorable events there over the years. My brother even got married there.
ReplyDeleteIt's good that they remind us of the dangers involved in such work. I think we become desensitized to how dangerous the work was back then and how lives were cut short too easily.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great place to visit!
Looks like a fun day! Hello to Mrs T and Lily:)
ReplyDeleteNow that looks like a great day except for the poor man who was crushed flatter than a pancake. :-)
ReplyDeleteReenactments really catch your attention.
ReplyDeleteI'd hate to be the one to reenact the flattened pancake! LOL!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great time, I would really enjoy this. Like the added dramatics with the accident. LOL
ReplyDeleteIt appears a good time was had by all, Lots of history here.
ReplyDeleteI'll take some bacon with that pancake, Cookie.
ReplyDeleteI bet the actors had as much fun as the audience.
ReplyDeleteOh it does look like fun.
ReplyDeleteNot an easy task to pose as a pancake.... smiles. What an interesting place, though. I would have enjoyed a visit there.
ReplyDeleteOh I wish I could go there, you must have had so much fun. Logging must have been such hard work. Reminds me of the famous Monty Python song "I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK, I sleep all night and I work all day......"
ReplyDeleteThat brought back memories! We have also visited more than once and enjoyed the Forest History Center. My grandpa worked as a logger in the Bemidji area in enter and he had lots of stories to tell.
ReplyDeleteI'm relieved it was an enactment! Maine's a big logging state too, but I don't think we have exhibits as entertaining as this one.
ReplyDeleteNow this does look like a fun time. Really, anytime your party has someone named Cookie you are bound to have fun.
ReplyDeleteWow - (Oh, I'm back after a much-needed break) - what fun for you guys!
ReplyDeleteneat piece of history that they recreate. the area i grew up in in central wisconsin was settled due to logging industry, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Troutbirder, Enjoyed the report and photos. As you will know, the Pacific Northwest is big on lumber too. Remind me to be extra careful around logging trucks after seeing what happened to that young man here. ;-) Thanks for the post ... I look forward to your next.
ReplyDeleteMy father used to have a photo of his dad and grand dad logging with their black percheron. Seeing your photos reminded me of it. Now I will have to start looking for that photo. The percheron was quite famous in Tennessee where they lived. Loved your bunkhouse photo.
ReplyDeleteThis is so fun!
ReplyDeleteI was wrestling with my conscience a bit, wondering what it is about our species that we find humor in a man being crushed to death. Then, to save the day, men's underwear appeared. Troutbirder strikes again.
ReplyDelete