Sawmills
In the early days, before powered saw mills came into use, lumber was sawn
using a pit saw. Pit sawing was done by two men with a long saw that had crosshandles
at each end. A log, hewn square, was placed over the pit. One man, the sawyer, stood
on top of it to pull the saw up and the other man, the pit man, stood in the pit to pull the
saw down. In a long day, they would usually saw 12 - 14 boards. Logs were hauled to
the saw pit using oxen and a go-devil or scoot. This was made from the natural fork of a
hardwood tree.
Eventually, pit saws were connected to a drive shaft and powered by water
instead of by hand. The saw moved up and down very slowly, cutting only on the down
stroke. Later, gang saws were used which were several up and down saws on a
massive iron frame. In about 1860, circular and rotary saws came into general use.
The Log Haulers
The Lombard steam log hauler was the original crawler type overland tractor. In
1901, Alvin Lombard was granted a patent on the track which would give wheels traction
in the snow, and in that year he built the first power log hauler at the Waterville Iron
Works in Waterville, Maine. This type of track was the ancestor of all crawler type
tracks such as military tanks, bulldozers, tractors, etc. The first log haulers were steered
by horses. Later, a steersman sat on the front of the sled, guiding the hauler by a large
iron wheel that turned the runners. They had no brakes. The log haulers operated best
on the roads formerly used by horses. The machine could haul 300 tons. The logs
were hauled on sleds in trains of four to ten sleds. Their speed was 4 or 5 miles per
hour and 20 miles per hour down hill. The haulers weighed from 10 to 30 tons. Eighty-
three Lombard steam log haulers were made altogether. They were mostly used in
Maine and New Hampshire but three went to Russia, and one each to Wisconsin and
Michigan.
In 1911 or 1912, the Lombard Traction Engine Company developed a gasoline
log hauler. This had a 6 cylinder engine rated at 100 horse power. The gasoline log
hauler was patterned after the steam hauler in all important details except for the power
source which eliminated the huge steam boiler and reduced the size considerably. This
made it more maneuverable and faster. It was also lower in initial cost, could be driven
by one man, and had brakes. However, it did not have the power that the steam log
hauler had. In 1934, Lombard built a diesel engine hauler but trucks came into use
about that time, so the new hauler was obsolete from the beginning.
Photo - Cook house and the crew
Patten is now home to the Lumberman's Museum, a tribute to the thousands of
woodsmen who contributed so significantly to the history and growth of Maine. Housed
in nine buildings, the vast collection of tools and equipment reflect every aspect of the
woodsman's life and work in the 1800's and the first three decades of the 20th century.
Various camps are shown by models and dioramas. Tools for cutting and hauling timber
and equipment for river driving logs to the mills are on display. There are working
sawmill models as well as a collection of carpenter's, millwright's, and cooper's tools.
Even the equipment and utensils used by the cook to prepare the many and hearty
meals are included. Two buildings house the heavy equipment such as horse drawn
logging sleds, tote sleds, wagons, bateaux, two Lombard log haulers, a road icing cart, a
Holt tractor and other equipment. The picture gallery displays a large collection of
photographs and paintings that tell the graphic and colorful story of the early logging
industry. Other buildings include an 1820 logging camp, authentic in materials and
workmanship; a blacksmith shop complete with farrier, wheelwright, and smith's tools;
one containing a portable sawmill, shingle machine, and equipment for the hand shaving
of shingles; a double camp; and a reception area with gift shop. Visit the museum and
learn more about the fascinating history of the logging industry.
