The Log Drives of Yesteryear
In response to Vermont Public Radio's July 20 "Vermont Edition" show on the Connecticut River log drives (podcast available):
My father's family has lived on either side of the Connecticut River for generations, and a number of the men worked for timber tycoon George Van Dyke in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They cut trees, pulled logs out of the woods with horses, and worked the river drives. Many years after the last long log drive in 1915, my dad, Scott Hastings, Jr., was reminded of those days. One summer afternoon toward the end of the Great Depression, he took his grandfather for a boat ride. Dad was about sixteen and Great Gramp Oliver was "getting on" in years. My father was proud of his new rowboat because he had built it himself. Great Gramp had been taught the woodworking trade by the Shakers down in Enfield, New Hampshire, so he no doubt appreciated his grandson's accomplishment, but of course in those days that went without being said. Dad rowed along on the Connecticut River just below Hanover and above the site of Charles Wilder's paper mill (the hydro-electric dam had not been built yet), and Great Gramp sat quietly, puffing on his pipe. Then, he said, "Scotty, you see that iron ring in that boulder?" My father answered that he did. "That's where we boomed the logs on this part of the river." Apparently, my great grandfather had followed one of the drives too. I was glad to hear Tom Slayton and Mark Bushnell recognize the skill and bravery of the river drivers on Vermont Edition today. It was, indeed, dangerous work, and--whatever else they were--the men who laced up their caulk boots and faced the cold, roiling water of the Connecticut on a log drive were strong, colorful, often legendary characters. Part of the reason I am writing a novel (Amos Waters and the River Hogs) set during a log drive in 1885 is to evoke for future Vermonters a sense, not only of that time, but of those people whose courage and fortitude we can continue to admire and emulate. Thank you Jane Lindholm and the other producers of Vermont Edition for recognizing this part of our Vermont heritage.
My father's family has lived on either side of the Connecticut River for generations, and a number of the men worked for timber tycoon George Van Dyke in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They cut trees, pulled logs out of the woods with horses, and worked the river drives. Many years after the last long log drive in 1915, my dad, Scott Hastings, Jr., was reminded of those days. One summer afternoon toward the end of the Great Depression, he took his grandfather for a boat ride. Dad was about sixteen and Great Gramp Oliver was "getting on" in years. My father was proud of his new rowboat because he had built it himself. Great Gramp had been taught the woodworking trade by the Shakers down in Enfield, New Hampshire, so he no doubt appreciated his grandson's accomplishment, but of course in those days that went without being said. Dad rowed along on the Connecticut River just below Hanover and above the site of Charles Wilder's paper mill (the hydro-electric dam had not been built yet), and Great Gramp sat quietly, puffing on his pipe. Then, he said, "Scotty, you see that iron ring in that boulder?" My father answered that he did. "That's where we boomed the logs on this part of the river." Apparently, my great grandfather had followed one of the drives too. I was glad to hear Tom Slayton and Mark Bushnell recognize the skill and bravery of the river drivers on Vermont Edition today. It was, indeed, dangerous work, and--whatever else they were--the men who laced up their caulk boots and faced the cold, roiling water of the Connecticut on a log drive were strong, colorful, often legendary characters. Part of the reason I am writing a novel (Amos Waters and the River Hogs) set during a log drive in 1885 is to evoke for future Vermonters a sense, not only of that time, but of those people whose courage and fortitude we can continue to admire and emulate. Thank you Jane Lindholm and the other producers of Vermont Edition for recognizing this part of our Vermont heritage.
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