Gayle's Blog ~ Our Travels Across the U.S.: Tahquamenon Logging Museum, Newberry, Michigan

Michigan used to be a huge logging area. The amount of trees that are up here is amazing; we see people selling firewood all over the place, and the amount of trees does not seem to diminish. We went to Tahquamenon Logging Museum on our way to visit Tahquamenon Falls State Park. They are both a good distance from our campground, so we did not want to make two trips to this area. From the mid-1800s to 1900s, Michigan lumber from the nature around you was a hot commodity for the logging industry. That’s right; before you sought out our tree-filled oasis for a getaway, it was already on the map. Do you know this chapter of our story? The Tahquamenon Logging Museum tells it well with the help of original artifacts, enthralling events, deliciously hearty meals and tales passed down through generations of wide-eyed listeners.

This place also offers camping. I did not see any water hookups, but the offer electric; nice picnic tables and a new playground. The museum was celebrating and giving away surprise gifts. I got a small bag with 2 life savers, a bottle opener, and a scratch off to see what gift we won. It turns out that it was a nice collared shirt for Jim. The museum has three rooms of pictures and memorabilia, and a few other buildings outside.

Tired lumberjacks slept in long bunk houses. Typically, these bunks were built in tiers. Straw, hay or evergreen boughs were common bedding materials; the 'jack settled in between two woolen blankets. Daylight in the swamp came before dawn.

Interior of bunk house

Pangburn Camp, Hulbert, 1947

Typical railroad camps were built along tracks. This scene is of the Charcoal Iron Company camps and locomotives, 1919. Railroad camps evolved over the years, from small and primitive log camps of the 1850s and 60s to the sophisticated railroad camps of the 1920s. The most primitive lumber camps often combined several uses under one roof. Cooking, sleeping, and equipment maintenance might all be done in one log hut. The more sophisticated camps camps appeared later, as more companies competed to get out more timber. To compete, lumber bosses needed good help, and to get good men, they needed good facilities a top-notch "cookie."

Newberry Times, September 11, 1969: Telephones & Trivia ~~

The changeover from manual to dial operation in the Newberry exchanges of Michigan Bell Telephone Company met with unqualified approval of local subscribers long after being one of the two exchanges of the Upper Peninsula that did not have dial phones. The thought has often been expressed this past week that no matter how welcome is progress, no computer or impersonal dial will take the place of "Central." The thought is right. Volumes could be written about "Central" and the services she rendered to community, which she served in addition to the services she was paid for.

Many stories have been written about the operator who stayed at her post in time of emergency at the risk of her life, or who by her thoughtfulness had a hand in saving the lives of others. But it is not for these big deals she will be remembered by most. It is the little things, the small favors that will come to mind when the word "Central" is mentioned. In small towns she knew everyone and their business, and when trouble arose, she knew what to do when the troubled ones didn't. And did it forthwith.

It was in the early 1900s when the telephone first came to Newberry. The first office was in a building now long gone, where the Youth Center is located. The first operator was a Mrs. McLean who also ran a bakery. It was quite a novelty and the young fry of the town tied up the lines with juvenile trivia until someone applied a thumb and finger to the ear not occupied with the receiver and put a stop to that. Parents or kids, you think time has changed, maybe?

Train Light

This photo was taken as part of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. This huge load of logs is 33 feet three inches high. It was loaded onto a sleigh on February 26, 1893 with McEachin monitoring the loading of the gigantic pile of logs. The sleigh was built out of Bird's Eye Maple. The runners were 7 feet long and the bunks were 15 feet long. The load consisted of 50 White Pine logs which scaled 46,000 feet. In the bottom tier were 6 logs, in the second tier were 8 logs, the next three tiers consisted of 7 logs, then 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. Each tier except the top log was bound together by 850 feet of 1/2" steel chain that weighed 2,000 pounds. The load was 18 feet long and weighed 145 tons. The smallest log was scaled at 406 feet, and the largest at 1,205 feet.

The single team of horses pulled the load 9 miles to the Ontonagon River in Michigan. The team of horses weighed 3,500 pounds. The load of logs was taken apart and loaded on 9 railway flat cars, to become part of the State of Michigan exhibit in the Columbia World's Fair in Chicago. The load of White Pine logs was displayed at the World's Fair in 1893.

Williams House

This is inside the Williams house. It was a pretty good size -- much bigger than the RV we are currently living in! They were one of the original logging families and this is a depiction of what their home looked like. I've been trying to find out more information on the Williams Family, and this blog by Carrie Fancett Pagels is the only one I found.

Carrie Fancett Pagels writes a blog entitled "Heroes, Heroines & History, Lumberjack Days" where I found information on the Logging Museum where she talks about her maternal grandfather: He was a lumber camp boss in the Upper Peninsula and her great-grandfather may have logged in lower Michigan at the turn of the century, before returning to Kentucky. In the 1940’s, her maternal grandmother was the camp cook, along with some other ladies, and her mom also helped her mother. On the other side of the family, they had some lumberjacks, too, arriving sometime after her grandmother was born in 1895. The above picture is her paternal great-grandparent's cedar log cabin, which is part of the Tahquamenon Logging Museum.

CCC Barracks 1933 to 1942

The Civilian Conservation Corps was a voluntary government work relief program from April 1933 to July 1942 for young, unemployed, and usually, unmarried men. Enrollees were involved in a wide range of projects, including structural improvements to or the construction of buildings, bridges and roads along with flood control, forest and wildlife management and a wide range of other work. The original C.C.C. buildings feature old photographs, dioramas, furniture, clothing, models and original, turn-of-the-century logging equipment. There is also a C.C.C. statue that was dedicated in June 2002. C.C.C. Statue Chapter #161 depicts a young C.C.C. worker. This beautiful bronze sculpture was made in France and commemorates the dedication and spirit of the men who served in the organization.

Who were the CCC? They are young men who made up the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1933 to 1942. (Jim's Dad was in the CCC in Idaho during that time. He was part of the crew who worked on the Arrowhead Dam.) These men mended the scarred land, smoothed the eroded fields, cleared the muddied waters of the creeks and streams, and refreshed the depleted woodlands of our country.

They replanted forests from Maine to California. They built fire trails through the new forests and the old to provide protection and care. They cleaned out the diseased deadwood to protect healthy trees and new growth. They fought floods and forest fires.

They built lodges and campsites in our National Parks to encourage people to enjoy our beautiful country. And to make the parks accessible to all, they built roads and trails.

They worked the quarries to produce the building stone for the dams they erected in State and National parks. These dams created lakes that have welcomed campers, fishermen, and family groups for more than 50 years. From the quarries also came rock crushed to limestone and spread on farmlands to sweeten the overworked earth. And building stone from the quarries went into masonry dams and flumes to control rapidly eroding soil.

They worked all over the country. It stands today as a monument to the youth of the 1930s and what they accomplished with their minds and bodies and hands. They were the craftsmen with pick, shovel, and hoe; with maul, drill and wheelbarrow.

They gained education, seized job opportunities, and achieved honor, respect, and purpose in life. They put a mark on this land that will show for many years to come. As a generation, they are proud to have earned a place in history. They will always be grateful for that, and for the chance to share that pride with the generations that follows.

This statute commemorates the dedication and spirit of the young men who served in the Civilian Conservation Corps from April 1933 to July 1942, and preserves the legacy of the Corps for the betterment of generations to come.

What you Should Not do to a tree!

Peco Patsy's Band

Road Grader

Washing Machine

Edison's early phonograph

Paul Bunyan Kettle

History of the Kettle, as printed in the Newberry News July 1947: The Paul Bunyan Cafe, operated by Mr. & Mrs. Martin is approaching completion and the opening date is July 15, 1947. The open house is for all visitors, and include coffee & donuts. The main attraction for today will be the huge Potash Kettle Paul Bunyan's soup. The Kettle was originally used in a potash factory located and operated on the banks of the Tahquamenon River during World War I.

At the authentic Cook Shack, you can enjoy a real lumberjack breakfast. Volunteers at the Tahquamenon Logging Museum cook these old-fashioned meals over a wood stove with homemade care and goodness. Portions are huge just like days of old, and you won't leave hungry because it is all you can eat! The breakfast includes eggs, bacon, sausage patties, potatoes and pancakes with coffee, water and milk included. Orange juice is available for a small charge. Each summer, the cook shack serves about 2,400 breakfasts!

This bell was found at Leudke's Silver Creek Lodge between Eckerman and Paradise. The bell is from a train locomotive, possibly a shay. It is speculated that the bell could have come from Con Culhane's locomotives.