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Camp 13: Working in the Lumber Woods
Inspired by True Events
“Men who weren’t hard workers didn’t last long at the lumber woods.”
Most people in Newfoundland and Labrador have someone in their family who has worked “in the woods.” Some of these workers were employed seasonally—they fished in the summer and headed to the lumber camps in the winter—while others were full-time loggers who worked year-round.
Stan White runs Camp 13 on the southwestern side of Gander Lake, which is a commercial operation cutting pulpwood for Bowater Pulp and Paper. He and his brother, Allan, oversee the men employed by the company to ensure the camp runs smoothly. The camp had opened in the fall of 1949. Now, during its third year in operation, Stan has his work cut out for him, as Bowater has tasked Camp 13 with the delivery of 7,000 cords of pulpwood.
This historical novel captures a time and place in this province’s not-too-distant past. Camp 13 illustrates in fine, well-researched detail the day-to-day friendships, struggles, triumphs, and tragedies of a hard-working people employed in a way of life that is long gone but never forgotten.
“Men who weren’t hard workers didn’t last long at the lumber woods.”
Most people in Newfoundland and Labrador have someone in their family who has worked “in the woods.” Some of these workers were employed seasonally—they fished in the summer and headed to the lumber camps in the winter—while others were full-time loggers who worked year-round.
Stan White runs Camp 13 on the southwestern side of Gander Lake, which is a commercial operation cutting pulpwood for Bowater Pulp and Paper. He and his brother, Allan, oversee the men employed by the company to ensure the camp runs smoothly. The camp had opened in the fall of 1949. Now, during its third year in operation, Stan has his work cut out for him, as Bowater has tasked Camp 13 with the delivery of 7,000 cords of pulpwood.
This historical novel captures a time and place in this province’s not-too-distant past. Camp 13 illustrates in fine, well-researched detail the day-to-day friendships, struggles, triumphs, and tragedies of a hard-working people employed in a way of life that is long gone but never forgotten.
277 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 31, 2023
An interesting story based on the memory of those who worked in Camp 13. I enjoyed the story which depicts life in lumber camps in the Gander area. Although specific to Camp 13, many of our fathers or grandfathers in rural Canadian province could certainly relate to this life. 4.25 Stars
January 20, 2026
excellent book
November 1, 2013
"This book is remarkable and, perhaps, unique. In plain, simple language, it tells of seasons and events in the life of a lumber camp in central Newfoundland. There are few women, no 'love interest,' no sex and no attempt to make any of the men better (or worse) than they really are. Taken all in all, Camp 13 is one of the best novels I’ve read." -- PEI Guardian
"Personalities, weather, and animals all clash in this at times funny, at times nail-biting story. From the descriptions of camp food—fresh-baked tea buns, bowls of steaming prunes—to the collaboration needed to succeed in this tough terrain, White’s descriptions evoke what was one of the last bastions of isolated and all-male work situations." -- Historical Novels Review
"The new release from Flanker Press, titled ‘Camp 13: Working in the Lumber Woods,’ offers vivid and detailed description of some of the hardest work imaginable." -- Western Star
"'Camp 13' is a solid and thorough read . . .." -- The Telegram
"Personalities, weather, and animals all clash in this at times funny, at times nail-biting story. From the descriptions of camp food—fresh-baked tea buns, bowls of steaming prunes—to the collaboration needed to succeed in this tough terrain, White’s descriptions evoke what was one of the last bastions of isolated and all-male work situations." -- Historical Novels Review
"The new release from Flanker Press, titled ‘Camp 13: Working in the Lumber Woods,’ offers vivid and detailed description of some of the hardest work imaginable." -- Western Star
"'Camp 13' is a solid and thorough read . . .." -- The Telegram
January 4, 2014
Fun read! I could relate to some scenes as described by my great-grandfather and uncle who worked in Lumber Camps in Ontario
April 24, 2017
Well written novel based on the daily life of men who worked in the lumber woods of Newfoundland through much of the 20th century. Their hard work fed product to the Bowaters paper mills. The book discusses real people and real events, but put together in a way such that the reader is there, standing beside a man as he fells a tree; watching as men load up a slide with logs; there as the horses are fed and watered after a long day; and there when a horse breaks through the ice on a pond, fighting for its life to escape the freezing water.
My late father-in-law worked in the lumber woods for years, and this book gave me some insight into the hard work he did.
My late father-in-law worked in the lumber woods for years, and this book gave me some insight into the hard work he did.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews