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Lumberjack

Lumberjacks are mostly North American workers in the logging industry who perform the initial harvesting and transport of trees for ultimate processing into forest products. The term usually refers to loggers in the era (before 1945 in the United States) when trees were felled using hand tools and dragged by oxen to rivers.

A lumberjack c. 1900

The work was difficult, dangerous, intermittent, low-paying, and involved living in primitive conditions. However, the men built a traditional culture that celebrated strength, masculinity, confrontation with danger, and resistance to modernization.[1]

Terminology

 
Jigger Johnson, the fabled Maine woodsman whom historians Stewart Holbrook and Robert E. Pike call "the last lumberjack"[2][3][4][5]
 
Joseph Montferrand, legendary Canadian lumberjack

The term lumberjack is of Canadian derivation. The first attested use of the word comes from an 1831 letter to the Cobourg Star and General Advertiser in the following passage: "my misfortunes have been brought upon me chiefly by an incorrigible, though perhaps useful, race of mortals called lumberjacks, whom, however, I would name the Cossack's of Upper Canada, who, having been reared among the oaks and pines of the wild forest, have never been subjected to the salutary restraint of laws."[6]

The term lumberjack is primarily historical; logger is used by workers in the 21st century.[7] When lumberjack is used, it usually refers to a logger from an earlier time before the advent of chainsaws, feller-bunchers and other modern logging equipment. Other terms for the occupation include woodcutter, shanty boy[8] and the colloquial term woodhick (Pennsylvania, US).

A logger employed in driving logs down a river was known locally in northern North America as a river pig, catty-man, river hog, or river rat. The term lumberjill has been known for a woman who does this work; for example, in Britain during World War II.[9] In Australia, the occupation is referred to as timber cutter[10] or cool cutters.[11][12]

History

Lifestyle

 
A Maine logging camp in 1906.

Lumberjacks worked in lumber camps and often lived a migratory life, following timber harvesting jobs as they opened.[13] Being a lumberjack was seasonal work. Lumberjacks were exclusively men. They usually lived in bunkhouses or tents. Common equipment included the axe[14] and cross-cut saw. Lumberjacks could be found wherever there were vast forests to be harvested and a demand for wood, most likely in Scandinavia, Canada, and parts of the United States. In the U.S., many lumberjacks were of Scandinavian ancestry, continuing the family tradition. American lumberjacks were first centred in north-eastern states such as Maine. They then followed the general westward migration on the continent to the Upper Midwest, and finally the Pacific Northwest. Stewart Holbrook documented the emergence and westward migration of the classic American lumberjack in his first book, Holy Old Mackinaw: A Natural History of the American Lumberjack. He often wrote colourfully about lumberjacks in his subsequent books, romanticizing them as hard-drinking, hard-working men. Logging camps were slowly phased out between World War II and the early 1960s as crews could by then be transported to remote logging sites in motor vehicles.[15]

 
Lumberjacks at work in Kuopio, Finland on July 5, 1967

Division of labour

 
Felling axes

The division of labour in lumber camps led to several specialized jobs on logging crews, such as whistle punk, chaser, and high climber.[16] The whistle punk's job was to sound a whistle (usually at the Steam donkey) as a signal to the yarder operator controlling the movement of logs. He also had to act as a safety lookout. A good whistle punk had to be alert and think fast as others' safety depended on him. The high climber (also known as a tree topper) used iron climbing hooks and rope to ascend a tall tree in the landing area of the logging site, where he would chop off limbs as he climbed, chop off the top of the tree, and finally attach pulleys and rigging to the tree. After that, it could be used as a spar so logs could be skidded into the landing. High climbers and whistle punks were both phased out in the 1960s to early 1970s when portable steel towers replaced spar trees and radio equipment replaced steam whistles for communication. The choker setters attached steel cables (or chokers) to downed logs so they could be dragged into the landing by the yarder. The chasers removed the chokers once the logs were at the landing. Choker setters and chasers were often entry-level positions on logging crews, with more experienced loggers seeking to move up to more skill-intensive positions such as yarder operator and high climber or supervisory positions such as hook tender. Despite the common perception that all loggers cut trees, the actual felling, and bucking of trees were also specialized job positions done by fallers and buckers. Faller and bucker were once two separate job titles, but they are now combined.[17]

Machinery

Before the era of modern diesel or gasoline powered equipment, the existing machinery was steam powered. Animal or steam-powered skidders could be used to haul harvested logs to nearby rail roads for shipment to sawmills. Horse driven logging wheels were a means used for moving logs out of the woods. Another way for transporting logs to sawmills was to float them down a body of water or a specially-constructed log flume. Log rolling, the art of staying on top of a floating log while "rolling" the log by walking, was another skill much in demand among lumberjacks. Spiked boots known as "caulks" or "corks" were used for log rolling and often worn by lumberjacks as their regular footwear.

The term "skid row", which today means a poor city neighbourhood frequented by homeless people, originated in a way in which harvested logs were once transported. Logs could be "skidded" down hills or along a corduroy road. One such street in Seattle was named Skid Road. This street later became frequented by people down on their luck, and both the name and its meaning morphed into the modern term.

 
Lumberjacks near Bellingham, Washington, c. 1910

Among the living history museums that preserve and interpret the forest industry are:

Culture

 
Lumberjack, painting by Ferdinand Hodler, 1910.

Tomczik (2008) has investigated the lifestyle of lumberjacks from 1840 to 1940, using records from mostly Maine and Minnesota logging camps. In a period of industrial development and modernization in urban areas, logging remained a traditional business in which the workers exhibited pride in their craft, masculinity, and closely-guarded individualism. Their camps were a bastion of the traditional workplace, as they intentionally defied modern rationalized management. At the peak in 1906 there were 500,000 lumberjacks. Logging camps were located in isolated areas that provided room and board as well as a workplace. There were usually few women present other than the wives of cooks and foremen. Men earned praise for their skill, competitiveness, and aggression. When not at work, they played rough games, told tall tales, and built up their reputations by consuming large amounts of food. By 1940, the business was undergoing major changes, as access roads and automobiles ended residential logging camps, chain saws replaced crosscut saws, and managers installed industrial methods of logging.[19]

Evolution

Tie hacking

A specialty form of logging involving the felling of trees for the production of railroad ties was known as tie hacking. These lumberjacks, called tie hacks, used saws to fell trees and cut to length, and a broad-axe to flatten two or all four sides of the log to create railroad ties. Later, portable saw mills were used to cut and shape ties. Tie hacking was an important form of logging in Wyoming and northern Colorado and the remains of tie hacking camps can be found on National Forest land. The remains of flumes can be seen near Dubois, Wyoming,[20] and Old Roach, Colorado. In addition, a decaying splash dam exists near the Old Roach site as well. There, tie hacks attempted to float logs down to the Laramie River for the annual spring tie drives, and the splash dam was used to collect winter snow-melt to increase the water flow for the tie drive.[21]

Modern technology

Modern technology changed the job of the modern logger considerably. Although the basic task of harvesting trees is still the same, the machinery and tasks are no longer the same. Many of the old job specialties on logging crews are now obsolete.

Chainsaws, harvesters, and feller bunchers are now used to cut or fell trees. The tree is turned into logs by removing the limbs (delimbing) and cutting it into logs of optimal length (bucking). The felled tree or logs are moved from the stump to the landing. Ground vehicles such as a skidder or forwarder can pull, carry, or shovel the logs. Cable systems "cars" can pull logs to the landing. Logs can also be flown to the landing by helicopter. Logs are commonly transported to the sawmill using trucks. Harvesting methods may include clear cutting or selective cutting. Concerns over the environmental impact have led to controversy about modern logging practices. In certain areas of forest loggers re-plant their crop for future generations.

A Wall Street Journal survey on the best jobs in the United States ended by listing being a logger as the "worst" 3D's job,[22] citing "work instability, poor income, and pure danger". According to a Wall St. review studying the 71 most dangerous jobs, the most dangerous job was identified as that of logging workers in 2020.[23]

Safety

Lumberjacks and loggers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. The constant danger of being around heavy equipment and chainsaws in unsafe areas maximizes the danger. Proper PPE consists of eye protection, head protection, ear protection, long sleeves, chaps (if working with a chainsaw), and steel toe boots. When entering this profession, it is emphasized to be on one's toes because individuals are responsible for their own safety to guard against many uncontrollable hazards in the timber. For example, the weather can cause a dangerous situation quicker than one may realize. Additionally, logs and trees often plummet down a mountainside with no regard for what is in its way. In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has resources dedicated for logging safety,[24] and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has identified logging as a priority area of safety research under the National Occupational Research Agenda.[25]

Loggersports

 
Double cut competition at the Lexington Barbecue Festival
 
Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

The sport of Loggersports grew out of competitions in lumber camps aimed at determining the best woodcutters. Today, these competitions are used to acknowledge the rich history of forestry and logging and to keep traditions alive.

STIHL Timbersports Series - Worldwide

The STIHL Timbersports Series was founded in 1985, and brings competitors from across the world to compete in six woodsman or wood chopping competitions. The events are broadcast worldwide on a variety of networks, including ESPN, ABC, and Eurosport.[26]

Squamish Days Loggers Sports - Canada

In Canada, Squamish Days Loggers Sports in Squamish, British Columbia, attracts the finest competitors to its weekend festival in August each year. The event has entertainers such as Johnny Cash, who, in 1991, performed at the 5,000-seat Loggers Sports grounds during his Roadshow tour.[27]

The Woodsmen's Days - New York, United States

The Woodsmen's Days events at Tupper Lake, New York commemorate the lumberjack with logging competitions and demonstrations during mid-July. Many colleges have woodsmen teams or forestry clubs who compete regionally, nationally, and internationally. The Association of Southern Forestry Clubs, for example, sponsors an annual Forestry Conclave with 250 contestants and a variety of events.

Lumberjack Tours - United States

There are also lumberjack shows which tour the United States, demonstrating traditional logging practices to the general public. The annual Lumberjack World Championships have been held in Hayward, Wisconsin since 1960.[28] Over 12,000 visitors come to the event each year in late July to watch men and women compete in 21 different events, including log rolling, chopping, timed hot (power) and bucksaw cutting, and tree climbing.[29]

Lumbersexual aesthetic

 
Example of urban lumberjack fashion

In 2014, the term "lumbersexual" emerged in online culture due to an observation that outdoor gear was used because of its aesthetics, not function.[30] Whereas similar terms such as "the Urban Woodsman" existed since 2012,[31] the term "lumbersexual" became popular in fashion magazines and online outlets during 2015 and 2016.[32]

The term "lumbersexual" is a near antonymous play on the earlier "metrosexual",[33] a metropolitan-heterosexual man who values appearances, apparel and aesthetics. Unlike the metrosexual, the lumbersexual is a man who adopted the stylistic traits of outdoor gear, namely a beard, plaid shirt, and work boots, in urban environments.[32][34]

Media reports show lumbersexuals adorned by neck and sleeve tattoos. Whereas commentators discussed whether the lumbersexual is an attempt to "reclaim masculinity",[35][36][37][38] researchers show that the term is a media representation that very few people actually use for self identification.[32]

Popular culture

In popular culture, the stereotypical lumberjack is a strong, burly, usually bearded man who lives to brave the natural environment. He is depicted as wearing suspenders, a long-sleeved plaid flannel shirt, and heavy caulk boots, and is often characterized as having a voracious appetite, especially for flapjacks.[citation needed] He works by cutting down trees with either an axe or with the help of another lumberjack and a crosscut saw, as opposed to the modern chainsaw.[39]

Folklore

The most famous depiction of a lumberjack in folklore is Paul Bunyan. Several towns claim to have been Paul Bunyan's home and have constructed statues of Bunyan and his blue ox "Babe".[40]

 
"Nätti-Jussi" ("Pretty-John") was a legendary Finnish forest laborer and lumberjack. The stories told by Nätti made him a very famous figure, particularly in Lapland.[41]

Known for their many exploits, many real life loggers have become renowned for their extraordinary strength, intuition, and knowledge of the woods. Men such as Jigger Johnson, the Maine woodsman who supposedly kicked knots off frozen logs barefooted,[42][2] and Joseph Montferrand (better known as Big Joe Mufferaw), the French-Canadian known for his physical prowess and desire to protect the French-speaking logger,[43] have been celebrated as folk heroes throughout North America, and have contributed to the myths of the Lumberjack.[44]

Literature, film, and television

Books

Films

Television

The lives of loggers have been featured on the following American television series:

Music

Songs

  • Lumberjacks rapidly developed their own distinctive musical culture of work songs. Many were based on traditional European folk tunes, with lyrics that reflected the lives, experiences and concerns of lumberjacks, with the themes of cutting, hauling, rolling, and driving, as well as narrative songs that involved romance.[46]
  • Big Joe Mufferaw, a song recorded and performed by Stompin' Tom Connors, one of Canada's most prolific and well-known country and folk singer-songwriters, about legendary folk hero Joseph Montferrand, a French-Canadian logger. This song appears on the album Stompin' Tom Meets Big Joe Mufferaw (1970), on the live album Live At The Horseshoe (1971), and on the album Move Along With Stompin' Tom (1999).
  • The Log Driver's Waltz, a 1956 song by Wade Hemsworth on his album Folk Songs of the Canadian North Woods[47]
  • Lumberjack, a 1960 song by Johnny Cash on his album Ride This Train
  • The Lumberjack, a song by Hal Willis
  • The Lumberjack, a song featuring a chainsaw solo, by the American rock band Jackyl
  • The Lumberjack Song, a song by Monty Python, known for its refrain: "I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay / I sleep all night and I work all day. ..."

See also

References

  1. ^ Hayner, Norman S. (April 1945). "Taming the Lumberjack". American Sociological Review. 10 (2): 217–225. doi:10.2307/2085640. JSTOR 2085640.
  2. ^ a b Holbrook, Stewart (1938). Holy Old MacKinaw: A Natural History of the American Lumberjack, The Macmillan Company, New York. ISBN 1-112-55989-2.
  3. ^ World Film News and Television Progress, vol. 3, no. 6, London Cinema Contact Ldt., October, 1938.
  4. ^ Pike, Robert E. (1967). Tall Trees, Tough Men, W. W. Norton & Company, New York. ISBN 0393319172.
  5. ^ Holbrook, Stewart (1961). Yankee Loggers: A Recollection of Woodsmen, Cooks, and River Drivers, The International Paper Company, New York. ISBN 9781258435714.
  6. ^ "Occupational Image: Lumberjacks". Tyler Rudd Putman. 2012-06-05. from the original on 2014-03-08. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  7. ^ "Logging Industry Workers". Vault.
  8. ^ Benjamin C. Mukkala (1997). "The Shanty Boys" (PDF). Forest History Today. (PDF) from the original on 2016-06-21. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  9. ^ "WW2 People's War - The Lumberjills of Scotland". BBC History. 2005-08-03. from the original on 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  10. ^ "Govt works towards timber cutter compo". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 2005-05-17. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  11. ^ "Our house: histories of Australian homes - Koongalba, The timber getter's residence". Environment.gov.au. 2008-08-07. from the original on 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  12. ^ [1] July 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Rohe, 1986
  14. ^ "Michigan Axe Pattern, Uses and Origin". clutchaxes.com.
  15. ^ Smith (1972)
  16. ^ Radford (1987)
  17. ^ Sorden and Vallier, 1986
  18. ^ "Algonquin Logging Museum". Algonquin Provincial Park. The Friends of Algonquin Park. from the original on 2018-06-18. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  19. ^ Adam Tomczik, "'He-men Could Talk to He-men in He-man Language'": Lumberjack Work Culture in Maine and Minnesota, 1840–1940," Historian Winter 2008, Vol. 70 Issue 4, pp 697-715
  20. ^ Pinkerton, Joan (1981). Knights of the Broadax; the Story of the Wyoming Tie Hack. ISBN 0-87004-283-1.
  21. ^ Jones, Keith. History of Jelm, Wyoming. Vol. 1. p. 17.
  22. ^ "Career & Job News, Work, Employment & Salary Trends - Wall Street Journal - WSJ.com". Careerjournal.com. from the original on 2008-01-20. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  23. ^ Clanton, Nancy; Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta. "These are the most dangerous jobs in America". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  24. ^ "Logging - Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration". www.osha.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  25. ^ "CDC - NIOSH - NORA Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Sector Council". www.cdc.gov. Center for Disease Control. 2019-02-11. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
  26. ^ "STIHL TIMBERSPORTS | Lumberjack Competition Series". Stihl USA. from the original on 2016-07-08. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  27. ^ Sylvie Paillard (2010-07-25). "The spectacle on the world stage". Squamishchief.com. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  28. ^ Murphy McGinnis Interactive. . Lumberjack World Championships. Archived from the original on 2010-10-24. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  29. ^ "Lumberjack World Championships | Hayward, WI". www.lumberjackworldchampionships.com. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  30. ^ Puzak, Tom (2014-10-30). "The Rise of the 'Lumbersexual'". GearJunkie. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  31. ^ "Consider The Urban Woodsman". The Awl. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  32. ^ a b c Diaz Ruiz, Carlos A.; Kjellberg, Hans (2020). "Feral segmentation: How cultural intermediaries perform market segmentation in the wild". Marketing Theory. 20 (4): 429–457. doi:10.1177/1470593120920330. ISSN 1470-5931. S2CID 219027435.
  33. ^ Simpson, Mark (2002-07-22). "Meet the metrosexual". Salon. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  34. ^ Baxter, Holly (14 November 2014). "Out of the woods, here he comes: the lumbersexual". The Guardian. from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  35. ^ Nicks, Denver. "Confessions of a Lumbersexual". Time. from the original on 2015-02-08. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  36. ^ Mychaskiw, Marianne (September 24, 2015). . InStyle. Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  37. ^ Tang, Dennis (Jun 25, 2015). . Esquire. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  38. ^ Lumbersexuality and Its Discontents 2017-03-03 at the Wayback Machine by Willa Brown (December 10, 2014), The Atlantic
  39. ^ Samuel, R.; Thompson, P. R. (1990). The Myths We Live By. London: Taylor & Francis. pp. 132–136.
  40. ^ Dorson, R. M. (1977) [1961]. American folklore: with revised bibliographical notes (2nd ed.). University of Chicago Press. p. 216.
  41. ^ Lehtinen, Lasse: Nätti Watchdog. Finnish adventurer biography. Espoo: Paasilinna, 2012. ISBN 978-952-5856-65-1
  42. ^ Monahan, Robert. "Jigger Johnson", New Hampshire Profiles magazine, Northeast Publications, Concord, New Hampshire, April, 1957.
  43. ^ Colombo, J. R. (1984). Canadian literary landmarks. Dundurn Press. p. 158.
  44. ^ Appalachia Appalachian Mountain Club, 1964.
  45. ^ Kurelek, William (1974). Lumberjack. ISBN 0-88776-378-2.
  46. ^ Mood, T. A. (2004). American Regional Folklore: A Sourcebook and Research Guide. ABC-CLIO. pp. 220–222.
  47. ^ Levy, Joel (December 8, 2016). "The History of The Log Driver's Waltz". The Toronto Guardian. from the original on 2016-12-11. Retrieved March 28, 2017.

Further reading

  • Brock, Emily K. Money Trees: The Douglas Fir and American Forestry, 1900-1944 (Oregon State University Press, 2015). 272 pp.
  • Chaney, Michael P. White Pine on the Saco River: An Oral History of River Driving in Southern Maine (University of Maine Press, 1993)
  • Cox, Thomas R. The Lumberman's Frontier: Three Centuries of Land Use, Society, and Change in America's Forests (Oregon State University Press, 2010); 560 pages; examines successive frontier regions prized for lumber rather than farming, beginning with northern New England in the 17th century
  • Griffiths, Bus. Now You're Logging, Harbour Publishing, 1978.
  • Hayner, Norman S. "Taming the Lumberjack," American Sociological Review, Vol. 10, No. 2, (April, 1945), pp. 217–225 in JSTOR, description of lifestyle
  • Holbrook, Stewart H. Holy Old Mackinaw: A Natural History of the American Lumberjack, 1938, popular
    • Holbrook, Stewart H. The American Lumberjack (Collier Books, 1962), popular account
  • Karamanski, Theodore J. Deep Woods Frontier: A History of Logging in Northern Michigan (1989)
  • Lee, David. Lumber Kings and Shantymen. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: 2006.
  • Lemonds, James. Deadfall: Generations of Logging in the Pacific Northwest. Missoula: Mountain Press, 2001.
  • Mackay, Donald. "The Canadian Logging Frontier," Journal of Forest History 1979 23(1): 4-17
  • Radforth, Ian. Bushworkers and Bosses: Logging in Northern Ontario, 1900–1980 (University of Toronto Press, 1987).
  • Robbins, William G. Lumberjacks and Legislators: Political Economy of the U.S. Lumber Industry, 1890-1941 (Texas A. & M. U. Press, 1982). 268 pp.
  • Roberge, Earl. Timber Country. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, 1973.
  • Rohe, Randall E. (1986). The Evolution of the Great Lakes Logging Camp, 1830-1930. Journal of Forest History. Vol. 30. pp. 17–28.
  • Smith, David C. A History of Lumbering in Maine, 1861–1960 (University of Maine Press, 1972)
  • Sorden, L. G. and Vallier, Jacque. Lumberjack Lingo: A Dictionary of the Logging Era. (Ashland, Wis.: NorthWord, 1986). 288 pp.
  • Tomczik, Adam, "'He-men Could Talk to He-men in He-man Language'": Lumberjack Work Culture in Maine and Minnesota, 1840–1940," Historian Winter 2008, Vol. 70 Issue 4, pp 697–715

External links

  • William Reed (Timber getter) c.1930 - photo from the Jones-Mashman Collection at Lake Macquarie Library.
  • University of Washington Libraries: Digital Collections:
    • Clark Kinsey Photographs Over 1000 images by commercial photographer Clark and his brother Darius Kinsey documenting the logging and milling camps and other forest related activities in Washington State, ca. 1910–1945.
    • Industry and Occupations Photographs An ongoing and expanding collection devoted to the workers in the Pacific Northwest from the 1880s to the 1940s. Many occupations and industries are represented including the logging and lumber industry.
    • Man to Machine: Peninsula Logging Online museum exhibit based upon the Clark Kinsey Logging Photographs Collection and the recollections of Harry C. Hall, who worked as a logger on the Olympic Peninsula in the early 20th century. Includes a video on the Hobi family logging history (late 19th century – early 20th century).
    • OSHA.gov An overview of logging operations along with safety standards and other important safety links.

lumberjack, other, uses, disambiguation, wood, cutter, redirects, here, other, uses, woodcutter, disambiguation, mostly, north, american, workers, logging, industry, perform, initial, harvesting, transport, trees, ultimate, processing, into, forest, products, . For other uses see Lumberjack disambiguation Wood cutter redirects here For other uses see Woodcutter disambiguation Lumberjacks are mostly North American workers in the logging industry who perform the initial harvesting and transport of trees for ultimate processing into forest products The term usually refers to loggers in the era before 1945 in the United States when trees were felled using hand tools and dragged by oxen to rivers A lumberjack c 1900 The work was difficult dangerous intermittent low paying and involved living in primitive conditions However the men built a traditional culture that celebrated strength masculinity confrontation with danger and resistance to modernization 1 Contents 1 Terminology 2 History 2 1 Lifestyle 2 2 Division of labour 2 3 Machinery 3 Culture 4 Evolution 4 1 Tie hacking 4 2 Modern technology 5 Safety 6 Loggersports 7 Lumbersexual aesthetic 8 Popular culture 8 1 Folklore 8 2 Literature film and television 8 2 1 Books 8 2 2 Films 8 2 3 Television 8 3 Music 8 3 1 Songs 9 See also 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External linksTerminology Edit Jigger Johnson the fabled Maine woodsman whom historians Stewart Holbrook and Robert E Pike call the last lumberjack 2 3 4 5 Joseph Montferrand legendary Canadian lumberjack The term lumberjack is of Canadian derivation The first attested use of the word comes from an 1831 letter to the Cobourg Star and General Advertiser in the following passage my misfortunes have been brought upon me chiefly by an incorrigible though perhaps useful race of mortals called lumberjacks whom however I would name the Cossack s of Upper Canada who having been reared among the oaks and pines of the wild forest have never been subjected to the salutary restraint of laws 6 The term lumberjack is primarily historical logger is used by workers in the 21st century 7 When lumberjack is used it usually refers to a logger from an earlier time before the advent of chainsaws feller bunchers and other modern logging equipment Other terms for the occupation include woodcutter shanty boy 8 and the colloquial term woodhick Pennsylvania US A logger employed in driving logs down a river was known locally in northern North America as a river pig catty man river hog or river rat The term lumberjill has been known for a woman who does this work for example in Britain during World War II 9 In Australia the occupation is referred to as timber cutter 10 or cool cutters 11 12 History EditLifestyle Edit A Maine logging camp in 1906 Lumberjacks worked in lumber camps and often lived a migratory life following timber harvesting jobs as they opened 13 Being a lumberjack was seasonal work Lumberjacks were exclusively men They usually lived in bunkhouses or tents Common equipment included the axe 14 and cross cut saw Lumberjacks could be found wherever there were vast forests to be harvested and a demand for wood most likely in Scandinavia Canada and parts of the United States In the U S many lumberjacks were of Scandinavian ancestry continuing the family tradition American lumberjacks were first centred in north eastern states such as Maine They then followed the general westward migration on the continent to the Upper Midwest and finally the Pacific Northwest Stewart Holbrook documented the emergence and westward migration of the classic American lumberjack in his first book Holy Old Mackinaw A Natural History of the American Lumberjack He often wrote colourfully about lumberjacks in his subsequent books romanticizing them as hard drinking hard working men Logging camps were slowly phased out between World War II and the early 1960s as crews could by then be transported to remote logging sites in motor vehicles 15 Lumberjacks at work in Kuopio Finland on July 5 1967 Division of labour Edit Felling axes The division of labour in lumber camps led to several specialized jobs on logging crews such as whistle punk chaser and high climber 16 The whistle punk s job was to sound a whistle usually at the Steam donkey as a signal to the yarder operator controlling the movement of logs He also had to act as a safety lookout A good whistle punk had to be alert and think fast as others safety depended on him The high climber also known as a tree topper used iron climbing hooks and rope to ascend a tall tree in the landing area of the logging site where he would chop off limbs as he climbed chop off the top of the tree and finally attach pulleys and rigging to the tree After that it could be used as a spar so logs could be skidded into the landing High climbers and whistle punks were both phased out in the 1960s to early 1970s when portable steel towers replaced spar trees and radio equipment replaced steam whistles for communication The choker setters attached steel cables or chokers to downed logs so they could be dragged into the landing by the yarder The chasers removed the chokers once the logs were at the landing Choker setters and chasers were often entry level positions on logging crews with more experienced loggers seeking to move up to more skill intensive positions such as yarder operator and high climber or supervisory positions such as hook tender Despite the common perception that all loggers cut trees the actual felling and bucking of trees were also specialized job positions done by fallers and buckers Faller and bucker were once two separate job titles but they are now combined 17 Machinery Edit Before the era of modern diesel or gasoline powered equipment the existing machinery was steam powered Animal or steam powered skidders could be used to haul harvested logs to nearby rail roads for shipment to sawmills Horse driven logging wheels were a means used for moving logs out of the woods Another way for transporting logs to sawmills was to float them down a body of water or a specially constructed log flume Log rolling the art of staying on top of a floating log while rolling the log by walking was another skill much in demand among lumberjacks Spiked boots known as caulks or corks were used for log rolling and often worn by lumberjacks as their regular footwear The term skid row which today means a poor city neighbourhood frequented by homeless people originated in a way in which harvested logs were once transported Logs could be skidded down hills or along a corduroy road One such street in Seattle was named Skid Road This street later became frequented by people down on their luck and both the name and its meaning morphed into the modern term Lumberjacks near Bellingham Washington c 1910 Among the living history museums that preserve and interpret the forest industry are BC Forest Discovery Centre Duncan Camp Five Museum Laona Wisconsin The Lumberjack Steam Train a passenger excursion train operates as part of the museum Central New Brunswick Woodsmen s Museum Boiestown New Brunswick Coos County Logging Museum Myrtle Point Oregon Cradle of Forestry in America historic site near Asheville North Carolina Forest History Center Grand Rapids Minnesota Hartwick Pines Logging Museum near Grayling Michigan Lumberman s Monument near Oscoda Michigan Maine Forest amp Logging Museum Bradley Maine Pennsylvania Lumber Museum near Galeton Pennsylvania Algonquin Logging Museum 18 in Algonquin Provincial Park OntarioCulture Edit Lumberjack painting by Ferdinand Hodler 1910 Tomczik 2008 has investigated the lifestyle of lumberjacks from 1840 to 1940 using records from mostly Maine and Minnesota logging camps In a period of industrial development and modernization in urban areas logging remained a traditional business in which the workers exhibited pride in their craft masculinity and closely guarded individualism Their camps were a bastion of the traditional workplace as they intentionally defied modern rationalized management At the peak in 1906 there were 500 000 lumberjacks Logging camps were located in isolated areas that provided room and board as well as a workplace There were usually few women present other than the wives of cooks and foremen Men earned praise for their skill competitiveness and aggression When not at work they played rough games told tall tales and built up their reputations by consuming large amounts of food By 1940 the business was undergoing major changes as access roads and automobiles ended residential logging camps chain saws replaced crosscut saws and managers installed industrial methods of logging 19 Evolution EditTie hacking Edit A specialty form of logging involving the felling of trees for the production of railroad ties was known as tie hacking These lumberjacks called tie hacks used saws to fell trees and cut to length and a broad axe to flatten two or all four sides of the log to create railroad ties Later portable saw mills were used to cut and shape ties Tie hacking was an important form of logging in Wyoming and northern Colorado and the remains of tie hacking camps can be found on National Forest land The remains of flumes can be seen near Dubois Wyoming 20 and Old Roach Colorado In addition a decaying splash dam exists near the Old Roach site as well There tie hacks attempted to float logs down to the Laramie River for the annual spring tie drives and the splash dam was used to collect winter snow melt to increase the water flow for the tie drive 21 Modern technology Edit Main article Logging Modern technology changed the job of the modern logger considerably Although the basic task of harvesting trees is still the same the machinery and tasks are no longer the same Many of the old job specialties on logging crews are now obsolete Chainsaws harvesters and feller bunchers are now used to cut or fell trees The tree is turned into logs by removing the limbs delimbing and cutting it into logs of optimal length bucking The felled tree or logs are moved from the stump to the landing Ground vehicles such as a skidder or forwarder can pull carry or shovel the logs Cable systems cars can pull logs to the landing Logs can also be flown to the landing by helicopter Logs are commonly transported to the sawmill using trucks Harvesting methods may include clear cutting or selective cutting Concerns over the environmental impact have led to controversy about modern logging practices In certain areas of forest loggers re plant their crop for future generations A Wall Street Journal survey on the best jobs in the United States ended by listing being a logger as the worst 3D s job 22 citing work instability poor income and pure danger According to a Wall St review studying the 71 most dangerous jobs the most dangerous job was identified as that of logging workers in 2020 23 Safety EditLumberjacks and loggers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States The constant danger of being around heavy equipment and chainsaws in unsafe areas maximizes the danger Proper PPE consists of eye protection head protection ear protection long sleeves chaps if working with a chainsaw and steel toe boots When entering this profession it is emphasized to be on one s toes because individuals are responsible for their own safety to guard against many uncontrollable hazards in the timber For example the weather can cause a dangerous situation quicker than one may realize Additionally logs and trees often plummet down a mountainside with no regard for what is in its way In the United States the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA has resources dedicated for logging safety 24 and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH has identified logging as a priority area of safety research under the National Occupational Research Agenda 25 Loggersports Edit Double cut competition at the Lexington Barbecue Festival Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show The sport of Loggersports grew out of competitions in lumber camps aimed at determining the best woodcutters Today these competitions are used to acknowledge the rich history of forestry and logging and to keep traditions alive STIHL Timbersports Series WorldwideThe STIHL Timbersports Series was founded in 1985 and brings competitors from across the world to compete in six woodsman or wood chopping competitions The events are broadcast worldwide on a variety of networks including ESPN ABC and Eurosport 26 Squamish Days Loggers Sports CanadaIn Canada Squamish Days Loggers Sports in Squamish British Columbia attracts the finest competitors to its weekend festival in August each year The event has entertainers such as Johnny Cash who in 1991 performed at the 5 000 seat Loggers Sports grounds during his Roadshow tour 27 The Woodsmen s Days New York United StatesThe Woodsmen s Days events at Tupper Lake New York commemorate the lumberjack with logging competitions and demonstrations during mid July Many colleges have woodsmen teams or forestry clubs who compete regionally nationally and internationally The Association of Southern Forestry Clubs for example sponsors an annual Forestry Conclave with 250 contestants and a variety of events Lumberjack Tours United StatesThere are also lumberjack shows which tour the United States demonstrating traditional logging practices to the general public The annual Lumberjack World Championships have been held in Hayward Wisconsin since 1960 28 Over 12 000 visitors come to the event each year in late July to watch men and women compete in 21 different events including log rolling chopping timed hot power and bucksaw cutting and tree climbing 29 Lumbersexual aesthetic Edit Example of urban lumberjack fashion In 2014 the term lumbersexual emerged in online culture due to an observation that outdoor gear was used because of its aesthetics not function 30 Whereas similar terms such as the Urban Woodsman existed since 2012 31 the term lumbersexual became popular in fashion magazines and online outlets during 2015 and 2016 32 The term lumbersexual is a near antonymous play on the earlier metrosexual 33 a metropolitan heterosexual man who values appearances apparel and aesthetics Unlike the metrosexual the lumbersexual is a man who adopted the stylistic traits of outdoor gear namely a beard plaid shirt and work boots in urban environments 32 34 Media reports show lumbersexuals adorned by neck and sleeve tattoos Whereas commentators discussed whether the lumbersexual is an attempt to reclaim masculinity 35 36 37 38 researchers show that the term is a media representation that very few people actually use for self identification 32 Popular culture EditIn popular culture the stereotypical lumberjack is a strong burly usually bearded man who lives to brave the natural environment He is depicted as wearing suspenders a long sleeved plaid flannel shirt and heavy caulk boots and is often characterized as having a voracious appetite especially for flapjacks citation needed He works by cutting down trees with either an axe or with the help of another lumberjack and a crosscut saw as opposed to the modern chainsaw 39 Folklore Edit Statue of Paul Bunyan Portland Oregon listed on the National Register of Historic Places The most famous depiction of a lumberjack in folklore is Paul Bunyan Several towns claim to have been Paul Bunyan s home and have constructed statues of Bunyan and his blue ox Babe 40 Natti Jussi Pretty John was a legendary Finnish forest laborer and lumberjack The stories told by Natti made him a very famous figure particularly in Lapland 41 Known for their many exploits many real life loggers have become renowned for their extraordinary strength intuition and knowledge of the woods Men such as Jigger Johnson the Maine woodsman who supposedly kicked knots off frozen logs barefooted 42 2 and Joseph Montferrand better known as Big Joe Mufferaw the French Canadian known for his physical prowess and desire to protect the French speaking logger 43 have been celebrated as folk heroes throughout North America and have contributed to the myths of the Lumberjack 44 Literature film and television Edit Books Edit Blackwater Ben 2003 by William Durbin about a boy who gets to live with his father as a cook in a lumberjack camp Sometimes a Great Notion 1964 by Ken Kesey 1964 about an Oregon family of gyppo loggers Lumberjack 1974 by William Kurelek about his days working in a logging camp 45 The Alphabet of Manliness 2006 by Maddox lists the lumberjack as one of 26 examples each corresponding to a letter of the alphabet of the pinnacle of manlinessFilms Edit Come and Get It 1936 film directed by Howard Hawks and William Wyler The Howards of Virginia 1940 film directed by Frank Lloyd Wild Geese Calling 1941 film directed by John Brahm The Enchanted Forest a 1945 film directed by Lew Landers The Strange Woman a 1946 film directed by Edgar G Ulmer The Big Trees 1952 film directed by Felix E Feist Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 1954 film directed by Stanley Donen North to Alaska a 1960 film directed by Henry Hathaway Sometimes a Great Notion 1970 film adaptation of the novel of the same name directed by Paul Newman Ferngully The Last Rainforest 1992 animated film directed by Bill Kroyer Fargo 1996 film directed by Joel Coen X Men Origins Wolverine 2009 film directed by Gavin HoodTelevision Edit The lives of loggers have been featured on the following American television series American Loggers on the Discovery Channel Axe Men on History Here Come the Brides The Pink Panther cartoon short Pink Campaign Wacky Races Gravity Falls DexterMusic Edit Songs Edit Lumberjacks rapidly developed their own distinctive musical culture of work songs Many were based on traditional European folk tunes with lyrics that reflected the lives experiences and concerns of lumberjacks with the themes of cutting hauling rolling and driving as well as narrative songs that involved romance 46 Big Joe Mufferaw a song recorded and performed by Stompin Tom Connors one of Canada s most prolific and well known country and folk singer songwriters about legendary folk hero Joseph Montferrand a French Canadian logger This song appears on the album Stompin Tom Meets Big Joe Mufferaw 1970 on the live album Live At The Horseshoe 1971 and on the album Move Along With Stompin Tom 1999 The Log Driver s Waltz a 1956 song by Wade Hemsworth on his album Folk Songs of the Canadian North Woods 47 Lumberjack a 1960 song by Johnny Cash on his album Ride This Train The Lumberjack a song by Hal Willis The Lumberjack a song featuring a chainsaw solo by the American rock band Jackyl The Lumberjack Song a song by Monty Python known for its refrain I m a lumberjack and I m okay I sleep all night and I work all day See also EditArborist Log boom Log driving Log scaler Glossary of lumberjack jargonReferences Edit Hayner Norman S April 1945 Taming the Lumberjack American Sociological Review 10 2 217 225 doi 10 2307 2085640 JSTOR 2085640 a b Holbrook Stewart 1938 Holy Old MacKinaw A Natural History of the American Lumberjack The Macmillan Company New York ISBN 1 112 55989 2 World Film News and Television Progress vol 3 no 6 London Cinema Contact Ldt October 1938 Pike Robert E 1967 Tall Trees Tough Men W W Norton amp Company New York ISBN 0393319172 Holbrook Stewart 1961 Yankee Loggers A Recollection of Woodsmen Cooks and River Drivers The International Paper Company New York ISBN 9781258435714 Occupational Image Lumberjacks Tyler Rudd Putman 2012 06 05 Archived from the original on 2014 03 08 Retrieved 2013 05 12 Logging Industry Workers Vault Benjamin C Mukkala 1997 The Shanty Boys PDF Forest History Today Archived PDF from the original on 2016 06 21 Retrieved 16 January 2017 WW2 People s War The Lumberjills of Scotland BBC History 2005 08 03 Archived from the original on 2013 09 23 Retrieved 2010 09 12 Govt works towards timber cutter compo ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2005 05 17 Retrieved 2010 09 12 Our house histories of Australian homes Koongalba The timber getter s residence Environment gov au 2008 08 07 Archived from the original on 2010 12 06 Retrieved 2010 09 12 1 Archived July 19 2008 at the Wayback Machine Rohe 1986 Michigan Axe Pattern Uses and Origin clutchaxes com Smith 1972 Radford 1987 Sorden and Vallier 1986 Algonquin Logging Museum Algonquin Provincial Park The Friends of Algonquin Park Archived from the original on 2018 06 18 Retrieved 17 June 2018 Adam Tomczik He men Could Talk to He men in He man Language Lumberjack Work Culture in Maine and Minnesota 1840 1940 Historian Winter 2008 Vol 70 Issue 4 pp 697 715 Pinkerton Joan 1981 Knights of the Broadax the Story of the Wyoming Tie Hack ISBN 0 87004 283 1 Jones Keith History of Jelm Wyoming Vol 1 p 17 Career amp Job News Work Employment amp Salary Trends Wall Street Journal WSJ com Careerjournal com Archived from the original on 2008 01 20 Retrieved 2010 09 12 Clanton Nancy Journal Constitution The Atlanta These are the most dangerous jobs in America The Atlanta Journal Constitution Retrieved 2020 11 19 Logging Overview Occupational Safety and Health Administration www osha gov Retrieved 2020 11 19 CDC NIOSH NORA Agriculture Forestry and Fishing Sector Council www cdc gov Center for Disease Control 2019 02 11 Retrieved 2020 12 09 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Lumberjack Competition Series Stihl USA Archived from the original on 2016 07 08 Retrieved 2016 07 08 Sylvie Paillard 2010 07 25 The spectacle on the world stage Squamishchief com Retrieved 2015 10 15 Murphy McGinnis Interactive Hayward Wisconsin Lumberjack World Championships Archived from the original on 2010 10 24 Retrieved 2010 09 12 Lumberjack World Championships Hayward WI www lumberjackworldchampionships com Retrieved 2020 01 15 Puzak Tom 2014 10 30 The Rise of the Lumbersexual GearJunkie Retrieved 2022 11 29 Consider The Urban Woodsman The Awl Retrieved 2022 11 29 a b c Diaz Ruiz Carlos A Kjellberg Hans 2020 Feral segmentation How cultural intermediaries perform market segmentation in the wild Marketing Theory 20 4 429 457 doi 10 1177 1470593120920330 ISSN 1470 5931 S2CID 219027435 Simpson Mark 2002 07 22 Meet the metrosexual Salon Retrieved 2022 11 29 Baxter Holly 14 November 2014 Out of the woods here he comes the lumbersexual The Guardian Archived from the original on 2015 01 28 Retrieved 6 February 2015 Nicks Denver Confessions of a Lumbersexual Time Archived from the original on 2015 02 08 Retrieved 6 February 2015 Mychaskiw Marianne September 24 2015 Leonardo DiCaprio Chops Off His Man Bun InStyle Archived from the original on January 25 2016 Retrieved January 5 2016 Tang Dennis Jun 25 2015 Why Athleisure Replaced the Urban Lumberjack Esquire Archived from the original on January 12 2016 Retrieved January 5 2016 Lumbersexuality and Its Discontents Archived 2017 03 03 at the Wayback Machine by Willa Brown December 10 2014 The Atlantic Samuel R Thompson P R 1990 The Myths We Live By London Taylor amp Francis pp 132 136 Dorson R M 1977 1961 American folklore with revised bibliographical notes 2nd ed University of Chicago Press p 216 Lehtinen Lasse Natti Watchdog Finnish adventurer biography Espoo Paasilinna 2012 ISBN 978 952 5856 65 1 Monahan Robert Jigger Johnson New Hampshire Profiles magazine Northeast Publications Concord New Hampshire April 1957 Colombo J R 1984 Canadian literary landmarks Dundurn Press p 158 Appalachia Appalachian Mountain Club 1964 Kurelek William 1974 Lumberjack ISBN 0 88776 378 2 Mood T A 2004 American Regional Folklore A Sourcebook and Research Guide ABC CLIO pp 220 222 Levy Joel December 8 2016 The History of The Log Driver s Waltz The Toronto Guardian Archived from the original on 2016 12 11 Retrieved March 28 2017 Further reading EditBrock Emily K Money Trees The Douglas Fir and American Forestry 1900 1944 Oregon State University Press 2015 272 pp Chaney Michael P White Pine on the Saco River An Oral History of River Driving in Southern Maine University of Maine Press 1993 Cox Thomas R The Lumberman s Frontier Three Centuries of Land Use Society and Change in America s Forests Oregon State University Press 2010 560 pages examines successive frontier regions prized for lumber rather than farming beginning with northern New England in the 17th century Griffiths Bus Now You re Logging Harbour Publishing 1978 Hayner Norman S Taming the Lumberjack American Sociological Review Vol 10 No 2 April 1945 pp 217 225 in JSTOR description of lifestyle Holbrook Stewart H Holy Old Mackinaw A Natural History of the American Lumberjack 1938 popular Holbrook Stewart H The American Lumberjack Collier Books 1962 popular account Karamanski Theodore J Deep Woods Frontier A History of Logging in Northern Michigan 1989 Lee David Lumber Kings and Shantymen Ottawa Ontario Canada 2006 Lemonds James Deadfall Generations of Logging in the Pacific Northwest Missoula Mountain Press 2001 Mackay Donald The Canadian Logging Frontier Journal of Forest History 1979 23 1 4 17 Radforth Ian Bushworkers and Bosses Logging in Northern Ontario 1900 1980 University of Toronto Press 1987 Robbins William G Lumberjacks and Legislators Political Economy of the U S Lumber Industry 1890 1941 Texas A amp M U Press 1982 268 pp Roberge Earl Timber Country Caldwell Idaho Caxton Printers 1973 Rohe Randall E 1986 The Evolution of the Great Lakes Logging Camp 1830 1930 Journal of Forest History Vol 30 pp 17 28 Smith David C A History of Lumbering in Maine 1861 1960 University of Maine Press 1972 Sorden L G and Vallier Jacque Lumberjack Lingo A Dictionary of the Logging Era Ashland Wis NorthWord 1986 288 pp Tomczik Adam He men Could Talk to He men in He man Language Lumberjack Work Culture in Maine and Minnesota 1840 1940 Historian Winter 2008 Vol 70 Issue 4 pp 697 715External links Edit Look up lumberjack in Wiktionary the free dictionary Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lumberjacks William Reed Timber getter c 1930 photo from the Jones Mashman Collection at Lake Macquarie Library University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections Clark Kinsey Photographs Over 1000 images by commercial photographer Clark and his brother Darius Kinsey documenting the logging and milling camps and other forest related activities in Washington State ca 1910 1945 Industry and Occupations Photographs An ongoing and expanding collection devoted to the workers in the Pacific Northwest from the 1880s to the 1940s Many occupations and industries are represented including the logging and lumber industry Man to Machine Peninsula Logging Online museum exhibit based upon the Clark Kinsey Logging Photographs Collection and the recollections of Harry C Hall who worked as a logger on the Olympic Peninsula in the early 20th century Includes a video on the Hobi family logging history late 19th century early 20th century OSHA gov An overview of logging operations along with safety standards and other important safety links Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lumberjack amp oldid 1146549228, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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