logging

Wood On Glass

J.C. Goding’s Camp – Short Run Potter County

Goding’s camp is at the junction of a corduroy road and a rail line. Corduroy roads were built by placing small logs in parallel lines. This road was likely used by a timber hauling team to cross the railroad track. The area is now part of Susquehannock State Forest. According... Read more

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Skidding Logs by Railroad Near Austin, Potter County

A man appears tiny atop this large temporary log storage pile. This image gives an idea of its massive size. To load the logs on railroad cars efficiently and safely, the loader operator and crew had to load each log without disturbing any of the other logs in the pile. Disturbin... Read more

Wood On Glass

Log Slide Through a Lumber Camp – North Central PA 1890

Clarke contracted with various lumber companies to make images of their logging camps. Pictured here is a relatively large camp with tools, equipment, barrels, baskets, boxes, a ladder, a grinding stone, a washboard, laundry, and a wagon scattered in a seemingly confused jumble.... Read more

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Group Photo at Logging Camp – North Central PA 1890

Clarke’s images give insight to the material culture of the camps. A visit by a photographer was a rare and special occasion in a remote area, so for this image, women and children are dressed up. The men are in ordinary work clothing. “Store bought” goods included pails, baby ... Read more

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Group of Men at an Unidentified Lumber Camp

This image is a typical composition by Clarke when photographing the camps; people, posed but relaxed, in the foreground, living quarters behind them, and the towering forest all around. Read more

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‘Snaking’ Logs – Near Austin, Potter County

Teamsters were responsible for driving and taking care of the horses that pulled logs to the nearest stream or railhead. “When we heard the cook downstairs, we got up. We did not wake the rest of the men. We had to feed our horses and get them ready in the morning. Also, afte... Read more

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Goodyear Lumber Trail on the Dennis Hall Farm – Two Miles S.E. of Keating Summit, Potter County

A large load of logs stacked on approximately twenty rail cars is ready for hauling, leaving behind stumps and desolate hillsides. Toward the end of his PA sojourn, Clarke often documented the devastated, barren countryside; sometimes called the “Pennsylvania Desert” by Henry W.... Read more

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Lumberjacks and Their Pastime – Near Hull, Potter County

Card playing was a favorite way for wood hicks to spend leisure time. These nattily dressed men have improvised teeter-totter chairs and a barrel table. The 4th of July was a favorite holiday, marking the end of bark peeling. Competitions between camps were another form of rec... Read more

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Lackawanna Lumber Co., Near Cross Fork

This was known as the Shacks.  Built on platform cars to be transportable to follow the flow of work.  Consists of cooking, dining, lobby, and sleeping rooms, as well as cars for horses. This solution for temporary housing probably was as efficient and commodious as the stationar... Read more