National Lumberjack Day
Every year September 26th celebrates the lumberjacks across the county who have been an important part of American history. In honor of National Lumberjack Day, let’s look at their important role and one of the most famous lumberjacks of all time.
Lumberjack History
The term “lumberjack” was first used in 1831 in a Canadian newspaper. In the United States, the first lumberjacks were European settlers. Their role in American history coincided with the beginnings of the country.
In 1607 the logging industry was birthed when settlers in Jamestown began cutting down trees to build their settlement. During the late 1700s, the lumber industries in the American colonies became important to England. The English depended on the pine boards that were used to build the British Fleet. It took 36 million feet of the boards to build 300 ship masts each year.
As cities grew and the need for housing increased during the 1800s, the logging industry continued to expand. The enactment of the Homestead Act in 1862 further increased the need for lumberjacks. They came here from Norway, Sweden, England, Ireland, and Scotland. They were drawn to the forested areas in the Northeast part of the country, as well as the Great Lakes. Eventually, the lumberjacks ventured to the forests in the Pacific Northwest.
At this time, hand tools and brute strength were all lumberjacks had to do their work. It was a grueling and dangerous occupation. Lumberjacks often worked 12-hour days, six days a week. Because the job was so physical, these men would consume up to 9,000 calories a day, which was equivalent to 5 pounds of food.
Another difficult part of the job was spending days, weeks, and even months away from their families. Some of them lived in primitive camps that consisted only of a cookhouse and a bunkhouse. Despite the dangers and difficulties of being a lumberjack, their work was something they took pride in. Pictures from around this time show lumberjacks posing next to huge trees that they had felled by hand.
As more states entered the Union, lumberjacks were more important than ever in helping to expand the lumber industry. They also became important during WWI when they volunteered for the Forestry Engineers, which became part of the Allied Expeditionary Force. Recruited by the United States Forestry Service, these lumberjacks not only had to learn basic soldiering skills, but more importantly, they needed to turn trees into usable lumber.
Their primary task included setting up sawmills and lumber operations in France. The lumber produced was used to build hospitals, housing, and to reinforce trenches. From 1917 to 1919, these specialized forces of American lumberjacks produced over 212 million feet of lumber. Compare this to the 4 million feet of lumber that the British and French forces produced!
Lumberjack Shows
Since 1945, lumberjacks started to be called loggers. Despite the name change, lumberjacks continued to develop a unique culture and set of traditions. During the 20th century, lumberjacks began showing off their skills in various kinds of competitions. Log rolling, axe throwing, sawing, and chopping competitions became a popular form of entertainment.
Some lumberjacks took their show on the road and began performing throughout the country. One of the most popular shows has become the Lumberjack World Championships, which takes place each year in Hayward, WI.
Some more popular lumberjack shows include:
The Most Famous Lumberjack
Of all the lumberjacks in the country, though, one stands out as the most famous. While Paul Bunyan wasn’t real, the folklore surrounding this well-known character is very much alive. This superhuman lumberjack was created through oral tradition told by loggers throughout North America. Paul Bunyan’s geographical connections include Minnesota, Michigan, Maine, and North Dakota.
In 1916, a promotional pamphlet for the Red River Lumber Company increased Paul Bunyan’s popularity. He and Babe the Blue Ox became the subject of literary compositions and theatrical productions. Huge statues of Paul Bunyan can be found in the following places:
Bemidji, Minnesota
Brainerd, Minnesota
Akeley, Minnesota
Klamath, California
Bangor, Maine
Eau Clair, Wisconsin
Hancock County, Iowa
St. Ignace, Michigan
If you ever travel to any of these areas, but sure to check out the statues of Paul Bunyan. Many of the sites also include a huge statue of Babe the Blue Ox.
Lumberjacks Today
Sadly, there aren’t as many lumberjacks (or loggers) as there used to be. In 1950, there were 170,000 professional loggers in the country. In 2015, that number had dropped to 51,000 loggers. Some reasons for this decline in the number of loggers include:
Labor shortages due to it being a dangerous and physically demanding job
Economic challenges which include fluctuating timber prices and increased operational costs
Environmental regulations and policies that protect forests but reduce the amount of available timber
Natural factors such as beetle infestations and wildfires
Technological advancements that enable large machinery to do much of the work
Despite the declining numbers of lumberjacks, their skills are still necessary in today’s timber industry. They are also very important to sawyers. While some sawyers have probably cut down some trees themselves, they are probably just as glad to leave this task to others. So next time you see a real-life lumberjack, thank them for all they do!
