Hemlock Lumbering   Edward Frank
  Nov 12, 2006 18:41 PST 
ENTS,

I am looking for historical accounts of timber operations in the 1800's through early 1900's in which hemlock was harvested. I would like to have accounts of the operations, estimates of the number taken, reports of how big the trees were... I also know that hemlock was barked for the tanning industry. Info about this would be good also. I do not have access to a large library nearby.

If possible if the passage is short, could you forward the text via email to me with a reference, longer passages could be scanned and emailed to me, or if you have something neat, possibly you could photocopy it and mail it to me along with information on the source. You can email me first. I would like to compile a report on the history of hemlock timbering and barking operations in the Eastern US.

If you you can't do any of these options, send me the reference and I will try to get a copy of the document somewhere.

Mailing address:

Edward Frank
8718 Route 322
Reynoldsville, PA 15851
Re: Hemlock Lumbering   orw-@fas.harvard.edu
  Nov 13, 2006 06:26 PST 

Ed, 

you and most of ENTS probably know of this reference, but I will
mention it in case others have not seen it, and it is the nice book,
"Hides, hemlocks and Adirondack history, written by Barbara McMartin.
It is a 1992 book, published by North Country Books. In addition,
Gordon Whitney's book "From coastal wilderness to fruited plain" also
has nice details on hemlock cutting and Tanning industry statistics.
Hope these help, Sincerely, 

DAVE ORWIG
Re: Hemlock Lumbering   Kirk Johnson
  Nov 13, 2006 12:28 PST 

Ed,

You might already be familiar with these books, but I thought I would
mention them just in case. During the 70s a series of detailed historical
accounts were published about the logging railroad era in Pennsylvania (see
list below), each specific to a different region of the state. They are
generally no longer in print, but I have seen the series at the Warren
Public Library, the Tionesta Public Library, the Smethport Public Library,
and the library at the University of the Pittsburgh at Bradford. Other
libraries closer to you may have them as well (PSU DuBois?). Some have more
information about hemlock logging than others, but if you haven't seen the
series I would think it would be well worth a trip for you to one of these
libraries judging by the information you're looking for.

The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum in Galeton might have even more information
you could use.

Kirk Johnson
Re: Hemlock Lumbering   Edward Frank
  Nov 13, 2006 17:56 PST 

Dave,

Thanks for the reference. I have done a fair amountof historical research
while in college, but that was geology and karst literatureof which I am
more familiar. I am completely a fish-out-of-water when it comes to
forestry and timber history. I am unfamiliar with many of even the the most
common literature on the subject. I have a few references in the local town
libraries and can get some books on interlibrary loan. If any of you are
assuming I am already know some basic reference, you may be mistaken.
Thanks again.

Edward Frank
Re: Hemlock Lumbering  Pamela Briggs
  Nov 13, 2006 17:56 PST 
Dear Ed --

I had my good friends at my local library (where I have worked for many
years) find some hemlock information for you.  They gave me some
hard-copy information, citations, and bibliographies, which I'll
snail-mail you tomorrow.

They also e-mailed me some full-text articles.  A couple of them are
huge PDF files (the biggest are 3339k and 3881k).  One of the huge ones
is about tanning, and looks promising.

My question is -- do you have ample room in this account, or in another
one, before I try to forward the stuff?  (I don't have a working
printer, or I'd print them and snail-mail those, too.)

Let me know.

Best -- Pamela
Re: Hemlock Lumbering   djluth-@pennswoods.net
  Nov 13, 2006 18:31 PST 

Ed,

Thomas T. Taber III, Walter Casler, & Benjamin F. G. Kline, Jr. have a series of
13 paperback books they published on this subject specifically in Pennsylvania.

They are:

The Logging Railroad Era of Lumbering in Pennsylvania: A History of the Lumber,
Chemical Wood, and Tanning Companies Which Used Railroads in Pennsylvania

Pitch Pine and Prop Timber: The Logging Railroads of South Central Pennsylvania

"Wild Catting" on the Mountain: The History of the Whitmer and Steele Lumber
Companies

Ghost Lumber Towns of Central Pennsylvania: Laquin, Masten, Ricketts, Grays Run

Sunset Along Susquehanna Waters: Williamsport, Leetonia, Slate Run, Cammal, Glen
Union, Gleasonton

The Goodyears-An Empire in the Hemlocks: Austin, Galeton, Medix Run, Norwich

Whining Saws and Squealing Flanges: Cross Fork, Emporium, Austin, Hicks Run,
Galeton

Sawmills Among the Derricks: Kane, Kinzua Valley, Bradford, Crosby, Lewis Run

Tionesta Valley: Sheffield, Brookston, Loleta, Bear Creek, Cherry Grove

Teddy Collins Empire-A Century of Lumbering in Forest County: Nebrask, Golinza,
Kelletville, Mayburg, Buck Mills, Iron City, Pigeon, Marienville

Tanbark, Alcohol, and Lumber-The Forest Industries of St. Mary's, Hallton,
Wilcox, Portland Mills, Straight, Johnsonburg

Allegheny Valley Logging Railroads-Locomotives, Sawmills, Pine Timber: Warren,
Forest Venango, Crawford & Erie Counties

Dinkies, Dams, and Sawdust-The Logging Railroads of West Central Pennsylvania:
DuBois, Clearfield, Brookville, Brockway, Penfield, Ebensburg, Punxsutawney

"Stemwinders" in the Laurel Highlands-The Logging Railroads of Sowth Western
Pennsylvania: Somerset, Fayette, Westmoreland, Cambria, Bedford, and Blair
counties


I was able get most of these copies at the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in
Strasburg, PA.


Dale