From Stump to Ship
"A Cinematic Record of the Long Lumber Industry"
Plot
This landmark documentary provides a comprehensive, year-round record of the Machias Lumber Company's operations in Washington County, Maine, during the final days of the long-log industry. The film captures the arduous winter labor of woodsmen felling massive trees with hand tools and the precision of horse-drawn sleds hauling timber over snow-packed trails. As spring arrives, the narrative shifts to the perilous river drive, where skilled 'river drivers' navigate icy, rushing waters to break up log jams and guide the harvest downstream. The journey concludes at the steam-powered mill, where the logs are processed into boards and shingles before being loaded onto the schooner Lucy Evelyn, destined for New York. It serves as a rare, authentic window into a vanished way of life that remained virtually unchanged for over 150 years.
Director
Alfred AmesAbout the Production
The film was shot on 16mm black-and-white stock by Alfred Ames, the president of the Machias Lumber Company, and his friend Dr. Howard Kane. Ames purchased his first movie camera in 1929 specifically to document the industry he knew was rapidly disappearing due to the rise of paper mills and motorized transport. The footage was captured over the course of 1930, documenting the full seasonal cycle of the lumber business. Originally a silent film, Ames would personally narrate the screenings using a 13-page typed script he co-wrote with his nephew, Rufus Fuller.
Historical Background
In 1930, the traditional 'long-log' industry in Maine was in its death throes, being replaced by the pulp and paper industry which used smaller trees and different transport methods. The Great Depression was beginning to take hold, and the era of the great river drives—a staple of Maine's economy for over a century—was coming to a close. This film was made at the exact moment of transition from 19th-century manual labor techniques to 20th-century industrialization. Politically, the film reflects the paternalistic business style of the era, where company owners like Ames felt a deep, personal connection to their land and workforce.
Why This Film Matters
The film is widely regarded as the most complete and authentic record of the long-log industry in existence. Its 2002 induction into the National Film Registry solidified its status as a work of 'cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.' It is a cornerstone of Maine's regional identity and serves as a primary source for historians studying labor, forestry, and the history of the American Northeast. It also represents a significant moment in the history of amateur filmmaking, proving that non-professional footage can hold immense archival value.
Making Of
The production was a collaboration between a businessman and a medical professional. While Ames owned the company and the vision, Dr. Howard Kane of Washington, D.C., provided technical expertise and a 'modern up-to-date camera' that produced better quality images than Ames's own equipment. The filming was often dangerous, requiring the cameramen to stand on the banks of rushing rivers or near heavy machinery. The project was entirely self-funded by Ames as a hobbyist endeavor, though it eventually became a vital historical archive. The 1985 reconstruction was a major undertaking by Northeast Historic Film, involving the synchronization of the original silent footage with the surviving 13-page narration script.
Visual Style
The cinematography is remarkably steady and clear for an amateur 16mm production of the era. It utilizes wide shots to capture the scale of the river drives and close-ups to show the mechanical workings of the mill and the faces of the loggers. The use of natural light in the snowy woods and the high-contrast B&W film stock effectively conveys the harshness of the Maine winter.
Innovations
The film is a technical triumph of amateur 16mm filmmaking, capturing high-quality images in challenging outdoor conditions without professional lighting or crews. It is also a significant achievement in film preservation; the successful synchronization of a 50-year-old script with silent footage created a 'synthetic' documentary that feels remarkably modern in its narrative flow.
Music
The original 1930 version was silent. The 1985 restoration features a soundtrack consisting of a narration by Tim Sample and period-appropriate music. The narration is a verbatim reading of Alfred Ames's original typed script, which includes technical explanations of the logging process and personal anecdotes about the men.
Famous Quotes
Knowing that the long lumber industry in Maine was a thing of the past in 1930, I purchased a moving picture camera to make a record of the long lumber operations on the river.
For 169 consecutive years the forests on the Machias River have resounded with the sound of the woodsman's axe.
This is quite a unique feature as there are very few places where the sail meets the rail.
Memorable Scenes
- The 'Center Jam' at the head of the falls, where twenty men spend an entire day picking logs apart by hand to clear the river.
- The loading of the schooner Lucy Evelyn, showing the massive scale of the finished lumber being prepared for sea.
- The 'Lombard Log Hauler' moving through the snow, showcasing the transition from animal power to steam power.
- The river drivers running across floating logs with 'caulk boots' and peaveys, demonstrating incredible agility and risk.
Did You Know?
- Alfred Ames used the film as a campaign tool during his 1932 run for Governor of Maine, showing it at granges and churches to demonstrate his business success.
- The 'K' in Alfred K. Ames stands for Kellar.
- The film features the 'Lombard Log Hauler,' a steam-powered crawler vehicle invented in Maine that was a precursor to the continuous track used on tanks.
- One of the river drivers featured, Bert Tibbetts, famously survived a near-death experience during the filming when he fell into a log jam and was swept under.
- The film was 'rediscovered' in the 1970s after being stored on a bookshelf for decades following Ames's political defeat.
- The 1985 restoration added a recorded narration by Maine humorist Tim Sample, who read Ames's original 1930 script.
- The schooner shown at the end, the Lucy Evelyn, was one of the last of its kind and carried over two million laths in the footage shown.
- The film identifies specific workers by name, such as boss Ed Connors, who was considered one of the most efficient lumbermen in Maine.
What Critics Said
At the time of its creation, it was viewed primarily by locals and political constituents who praised its accuracy and nostalgia. Modern critics and historians view it as a masterpiece of industrial documentary. Film archivist Karan Sheldon and historian Janna Jones have written extensively on its importance, noting that the film's strength lies in its unvarnished, detailed depiction of work processes. It is frequently cited in academic journals such as 'The Public Historian' and 'Forest History' for its 'inestimable historic value.'
What Audiences Thought
Initial audiences in the 1930s were often workers and their families who saw themselves or their neighbors on screen, leading to a high degree of local engagement. When the restored version premiered in 1985, it drew large crowds across Maine, with many elderly viewers moved to tears by the sight of a vanished era. Today, it remains a popular educational tool in Maine schools and museums, appreciated for its grit and authenticity.
Awards & Recognition
- National Film Registry Induction (2002)
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Early industrial 'process' films
- Amateur travelogues of the 1920s
This Film Influenced
- Woodsmen and River Drivers (1989)
- Another Day, Another Era
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Film Restoration
The film is fully preserved. It was restored by Northeast Historic Film in 1985 and later preserved to 35mm film by Cineric. It is held in the Fogler Library Collection and the National Film Registry.