Here one of the lumberjacks is doing card tricks for the others.
People thought the trees in northern Michigan would last for many years, but within a 20-year period, 1870 to 1890, most of the trees were cut. Logging was a dangerous and risky winter job. Lumbermen were often injured or killed. The men worked from 4am to dusk, even eating their noon meal in the cold winter woods. The logger’s meals were plentiful, if boring. Infectious diseases like chicken pox were a problem with the crowded conditions in the bunkhouse. The men were in the woods many months with only Sunday’s off. They often sang and made-up stories such as Paul Bunion and Babe the Blue Ox. These were often based on real people and exaggerated in the retelling. Millions of board feet of Michigan lumber truly helped build the country, and our northwest trees were an important part of that, but we will never see that again. The trees are gone.
The big wheels made hauling logs easier so they could cut them during the warmer weather.
