Maine Memory Network

Contributed by Westport Island History Committee

Description

Pictured is a typical spruce stand (25-35 cords per acres) on MacMahan Island before a managed clear cutting operation. The lumber was cut by Westport Island sawmill owner, Edwin Cromwell under the supervision of Pejepscot Paper Company forester Linwood Rideout.

The year-plus operation combined clear-cut patches and a fire lane spanning the width of the island. Cromwell's loggers stayed on the island a week at a time, going home to Westport on the weekends.

The harvested lumber was boomed to Westport Island across Goose Rocks passage at the mouth of the Sheepscot River and transported to the paper company in Topsham for processing.

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About This Item

• Title: Spruce stand, MacMahan Island, 1957
• Creator: Maine Forest Service
• Creation Date: 1957-05-16
• Subject Date: 1957-05-16
• Locations:
  • MacMahan Island, Sagadahoc County, ME
  • Westport Island, Lincoln County, ME
• Media: Photographic print
• Dimensions: 25.2 cm x 20.5 cm
• Local Code: CromEdw.Photo.12.1957
• Collection: Edwin Cromwell Family Collection
• Object Type: Image

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Cross Reference Searches

Standardized Subject Headings

• Lumber industry--Maine--Westport Island
• Maine Forestry District
• Machinery
• Pejepscot Paper Company
• Loggers
• Sawmills--Maine--Westport Island
• Westport Island (Me.)
• Lumber industry--Maine--MacMahan Island

People

• Cromwell, Edwin R
• Rideout, Linwood

Other Keywords

• Forestry
• Logging
• Lumber
• Paper companies
• Pulp mills
• Slash
• Spruce trees

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For more information about this item, contact:

Westport Island History Committee
6 Fowles Point Road, Westport Island, ME 04578
(207) 882-8477
Website

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