A unique look at the history of the great Adirondack logging industry of the upper Hudson plus the first Adirondack history to faithfully reproduce facsimiles of all of the log marks recorded in the Queensbury Book of Log Marks.
The massive number of logs in the great river drives of the upper Hudson required a system of identification, like cattle branding out west. So, the owners hammered their identification marks into the ends of the logs.
This was not only so the mills could tell who owned the logs, but to prevent theft. Log Marks on the Hudson not only reproduces facsimiles of the log marks, but also tells the story of the men who owned them.
Much of Merrill’s book contains a wealth of previously unpublished material. He discovered it by combing the archives of the town of Queensbury; the Crandall Public Library Center for Folklife, History, and Cultural Programs; the Chapman Historical Museum; and the Adirondack Museum.
What the author found tells the story of the rugged men who worked the logging industry in the southeastern Adirondacks and helped build its communities.
There are fascinating first hand accounts by the people working the mills in the early to mid nineteenth century. Merrill also reproduces the Hudson River Boom Building Agreement of 1850, never before seen in print. And he’s researched the biographies of most of the log mark owners. An extensive collection of photos of the men and the mills rounds out this history of the upper Hudson River watershed.
The book contains facsimiles of the 379 log marks listed in the Queensbury Book of Log Marks plus 46 photos, 34 line drawings, 5 appendices, a list of sources, and an index of names.
Excerpt
INTRODUCTION
This is the story of the logging industry on the upper Hudson as recorded by the marks of nineteenth century entrepreneurs who used the river to transport the great Adirondack forest timber resources to the mills at Glens Falls (also known as Glen’s Falls in the nineteenth century), Sandy Hill (renamed Hudson Falls in March of 1910), Fort Edward, and other sites along the way.
Settlement in the upper Hudson watershed in the early 1800s was similar to that of America’s earlier colonial times. The unbroken wilderness with its harsh environment was there for people to overcome and exploit in whatever way necessary to establish a sustainable livelihood. The first settlers were true adventurers faced with the formidable task of clearing land to support crops needed for survival.
To meet the need for building materials, these early settlers built crude up-down sawmills at the falls on streams and rivers to cut native virgin timber into lumber. At first, these mills thrived on the abundance of raw material but, as the land was cleared and the source of nearby logs gradually disappeared, many were abandoned. But the upper Hudson River and its tributaries provided a source of power and a means to transport logs from the northern forests to a new generation of mills along its course. In 1832, the Glens Falls Feeder Canal officially opened for navigation linking the mills in Glens Falls to the vast markets south in Albany and New York City.
All the elements were then in place—a growing market demand, raw material, power, and transportation to market—to make Glens Falls a prosperous and leading nineteenth century mill town with business enterprises that would sustain a flourishing economy well into the twentieth century. This is the story of that development as recorded by the log marks of those who had the vision and courage to take the risks to build and create. It is the story told from the nineteenth century perspective of the individuals behind the log marks with references and direct quotes from early records, newspaper accounts, and histories.
Part I, entitled “We’ll Drive our Logs to Glens Falls,” is an overview of the development of the lumber industry in the upper Hudson watershed during the 1800s. At the time, the town clerk of Queensbury recorded the marks used to identify the owners of the logs floated down river to the mills during the massive spring log drives.
This unique and little known record, covering the years from 1831 to 1933, provides the basis for Part II, “The Queensbury Book of Log Marks.” The marks are presented as they were entered into the record book, and the handwritten entries accompanying the marks have been transcribed and are shown in italics beside the marks. But our story would not be complete without meeting the men who recorded these marks.
In Part III, entitled “The Men Behind the Marks,” are short biographical sketches of these individuals, with references back to their marks, rounding out our story of Log Marks on the Hudson.
About the Author
Dick Merrill was a retired engineer from General Electric conducting history programs for schools and museums in and around the Adirondacks. He passed away in 2009.
Book Details
- Publisher: Nicholas K. Burns Publishing (July 2007)
- Trim Size: 8 ½ x 11
- Paperback: 312 pages, facsimiles of the 379 log marks listed in the Queensbury Book of Log Marks, 46 photos, 34 line drawings, 5 appendices, and an index of names.
- ISBN13: 978-0-9755224-2-4
- History, Adirondack history, New York State history
Reviews
“Fascinating History. Bought this to help with an ancestry project. Found the book easy to read and enjoyed learning about this important history of the area. Includes bios of key lumberman and companies of the period. Very helpful to my research.” Amazon Customer, 5 stars.
“Excellent book! A great source for those who have an interest in the logging history of New York State. Great source for the antique tool collector. Adds dimension to a little known aspect of river driving with a nice section on the times and the men who made those log marking hammers necessary.” Wayne G. Allen, Amazon, 5 stars
“This is an excellent book that is both educational and enjoyable to read. With many great pictures and interesting accounts it is sure to be enjoyed by both young and old. I highly recommend this book I can read it over and over.” Amazon customer, 5 stars
