Framingham State University - Dial Yearbook (Framingham, MA)

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26 drifted down the current to lumber dealers, saw mills, or paper mills. Men were often seen out on the logs prying them apart when they got lodged. When big drives were sent they were gauged and directed by means of booms, that is a lone of logs the ends of which are fastened together. In this way bridge abut- ments, rocks, certain mills, and shallow water were shut off. Vermont has a great many portable mills. I know of a man who has six or eight of these. One was put up in the immedi- ate neighborhood of my home last winter. Of course I improved my first opportunity to visit it. I found the settlement to be quite a village in itself. All it lacked was a church and a post office. There were live buildings, mess house, sleeping house, store, blacksmith shop and a barn. About forty Scotch Canadians, were in the camp. Two men, cook and cookee, prepared the meals. The mess house was of great interest to me because everything was neat and orderly. It was a one-room building about twenty by forty feet. In the middle of the north end were two large cooking stoves, while there was a door at each end, one opening into a store room, the other out of doors. In the northeast corner was an entrance to the cook's sleeping apartment. This was- single boarded but covered within and without with red building paper. A small sheet iron stove made it very warm and cozy. The furniture consisted of three chairs, two stands, and a bed made of rough boards. Two or three rugs adorned the rough board floor. Two small windows furnished plenty of light. Now we will return to the eating apartment. Four windows furnished the light here showing an unpainted and much stained but thoroughly swept floor. In the northwest corner was a sink, while along the rest of that side was a wide shelf under which were attached drawers. Some of these con- tained. dishes and others food. The other side of the room had a row of barrels, holding flour, sugar, and potatoes. Large boxes of tea, spices, etc., were also visible. Two tables ran parallel to the length of the room. These were unpainted boards covered with white oilcloth. This top rested on boards that were nailed together in the form of the letter X. These served as legs. Long unpainted benches took the place of chairs. One end of a board, four inches by two and one-half feet, was nailed to a beam over each end of each table. On the lower end of this was nailed a board five inches square, a strip three inches wide and one foot long was cut out of the lower end of the perpendicular board. This, as a whole served as a lamp bracket

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25 I found that I could easily push it down the track from the mill and even ride on it when I got it to going well. I might say that this sport took place fifteen feet above ground and was very enjoyableg but the thing absolutely refused to be pushed back. Now all I had to do was to run off and soon some of the help would want the car and so they would go after it. VVhen they were through with my plaything they would leave it at the mill. As soon as the men were out of sight I participated in another ride. This afforded me much amusement for some time, but one day I met with a surprise. Now some surprises are very acceptable but I will let you be the judge of this one. I was just completing one of my car trips when suddenly I was seized by some one back of me and lightly tossed into the sawdust piles several feet below. I got up, taking a load with me, and, although unharmed, I de- cided that my friendship with the car must come to an end. In this manner the summer passed with very little excitement until one day mother and I went for a walk to a charming spot, two miles distant, on an old wood road. Late in the afternoon we began retracing our steps when mother became aware of the presence of a panther which was calmly watching us. I was quite ignorant of the fact at the time and, by the way, continued to be for several years. As we proceeded, our unwelcome companion did likewise. From reports, I suppose I was a very troublesome child that day. My desire for flowers grew more intense every moment and I insisted on rushing into the bushes directly in front of the terrible beast. It seemed that our spectator was not very hungry because he did not give any signs of attack and, when we were about a quarter of a mile from the mill, he coolly made his departure. None of these seekers of prey came very near the buildings as they were afraid of the mill whistle. Thus ended a most delightful afternoon for me and an experience quite to the contrary to my poor mother. It was now nearly fall and the woman who had charge of the boarding house had so far recovered as to take up the work again. Consequently mother and I returned home. For the next few years, I failed to make any advance in my study of lumbering. About twelve years ago I went to a new home situated in the Connecticut valley, sixty-five miles north of my former dwelling. From this place I had a fine chance to watch the proceedings on and along the river. During the winter, men cut a great many logs and piled them along the water course. In the spring, when the water was high, the logs were rolled down the bank and they

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27 and by having the open space in the long board, the light could shine both ways. I noticed how spotless the lamps were. Tin cups, white crockery and steel knives and forks made up the table service. While making my investigation atthe mill, the midday meal was served. During the shut down of the machinery I had a good chance to look around. VVhen the men returned my com- panions and I accepted an urgent invitation to dine. This was the menu: Boiled beef, boiled potatoes, wheat bread, graham bread, butter, apple sauce, doughnuts, ginger cookies, cake, lemon pie, tea and coffee. Really I began to think I was on a picnic. After this we returned to the mill. I found the work in this like the one I have previously described, but I want to tell you about the sleeping house. This was twenty-feet by thirtyfeet. The entrance was in the north end. A window was on each side of the room, near the door. Another was in the center of the south wall. Near the north end of the apartment was a large box stove. At the right of the door was a cupboard. Three beds were built against the west wall. These were like a box four feet by six feet by two feet, except that the ends were prolonged upward about four feet. In this receptable were placed a straw bed and several blankets. This completed the place of repose. Individuals sometimes fur- nished something for a pillow. Along the front of these berths was placed a board reminding one of a shelf. This was to sit on. Above these beds and on the extended ends of which I have spoken, were built three other beds like the ones below. In the southeast corner were two other tiers of four berths each, like the first except, that they ran parallel with the end of the room. A sink and several shelves at the left of the entrance completed the fur- nishings. ' Harmonicas, singing, clog dancing, story telling and the daily paper helped to pass away the long evening hours. Drinking and card playing were absolutely forbidden. On Saturdays the mill closed at half past four and then was the time that a great many of the men did their washing. This was a feature highly entertaining to the passersby. The cordiality and kindness of these men was felt throughout the neighborhood. p Another of my recent excursions of investigation was to a finishing mill. This is where lumber is sent to be made into furniture, boxes, or house finishing, as baseboards, chair railings, banisters and mouldings.