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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

Before motorized chainsaws and logging machinery, loggers used hand tools like axes and saws to fall trees. Living in primitive conditions and doing dangerous work made the work challenging, demanding, intermittent, and low-paying. Loggers typically lived in lumber camps and followed timber harvesting jobs as they opened up. As distasteful as the bedbugs they supported, they resided in shanties (or bunkhouses), whose odor was a mix of smoke, sweat, and drying clothes.

The lumberjack could be found anywhere there were forests to be harvested and a demand for wood, most likely in Scandinavia, Canada, and parts of the United States. Many lumberjacks in the U.S. were of Scandinavian ancestry, continuing the family tradition. Axes and crosscut saws were used by “fallers” to fell trees. When a tree was felled and delimbed, it was either cut into logs by a “bucker” or skidded or hauled to a railroad or river for transportation. The loggers typically used a springboard, which had notches in it that were slotted into the tree. The loggers would then cut a wedge into the tree with crosscut saws and axes. The direction of the cut was important when deciding where the tree would fall. Whistle punks sound a whistle to alert yarder operators to log movements. He was also responsible for ensuring safety. Because whistle punks had to be alert and think fast, the safety of others depended on them. In the landing area of the logging site, the high climber (also known as a tree topper) would climb a tall tree using iron climbing hooks and ropes, cutting off tree limbs as he rose, cutting off the tree’s top, and attaching pulleys and rigging to the tree. Then logs could be skidded into the landing using it as a spar. The choker setters attached steel cables (or chokers) to downed logs so the yarder could drag them into the landing. Once the logs were at the landing, the chasers removed the chokers. A logger setter or chaser was often an entry-level position on a logging crew. More experienced loggers would move up to places like yarder operators and high climbers or supervisory roles such as hook tenders. Fallers and buckers’ felling of trees and bucking are specialized jobs, despite the common perception that all loggers cut trees.

The profession and culture of the lumberjacks began to disappear when machinery, vehicles, and motorized tools were invented. Today, lumber workers are called loggers. Below are some stunning historical photos of lumberjacks and loggers from the early 1900s.

#1 Lumberjacks pose with a Douglas fir tree in Washington, 1899.

Lumberjacks pose with a Douglas fir tree in Washington, 1899.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#2 Lumberjacks pose with a fir tree in Washington, 1902.

Lumberjacks pose with a fir tree in Washington, 1902.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#3 Lumberjacks pose with a 12-foot-wide fir tree, 1901.

Lumberjacks pose with a 12-foot-wide fir tree, 1901.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#4 Three lumberjacks pose by a large Douglas fir ready for felling in Oregon, 1918.

Three lumberjacks pose by a large Douglas fir ready for felling in Oregon, 1918.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#5 A lumberjack and two women pose in front of a tree near Seattle, Washington, 1905.

A lumberjack and two women pose in front of a tree near Seattle, Washington, 1905.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#6 Loggers hold a cross-cut saw across a giant Sequoia tree’s trunk in California, 1917.

Loggers hold a cross-cut saw across a giant Sequoia tree’s trunk in California, 1917.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#7 Lumberjacks undercut a giant sequoia tree in California, 1902.

Lumberjacks undercut a giant sequoia tree in California, 1902.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#8 Loggers and a 10-mule team prepare to fell a giant Sequoia tree in California, 1917.

Loggers and a 10-mule team prepare to fell a giant Sequoia tree in California, 1917.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#9 Loggers stand in the trunk of a tree they chopped down at Camp Badger in Tulare County, California, 1900

Loggers stand in the trunk of a tree they chopped down at Camp Badger in Tulare County, California, 1900

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#10 Lumberjacks pose on the stump of a tree which was displayed at St. Louis World’s Fair, 1904.

Lumberjacks pose on the stump of a tree which was displayed at St. Louis World’s Fair, 1904.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#11 A logging crew stands among cut old growth longleaf pine in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, 1904.

A logging crew stands among cut old growth longleaf pine in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, 1904.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#12 Loggers walk the surface of a log jam on Minnesota’s Littlefork River seeking a tall, strong log with which to build a loading boom, 1937.

Loggers walk the surface of a log jam on Minnesota’s Littlefork River seeking a tall, strong log with which to build a loading boom, 1937.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#13 Men stand on piles of cut trees in rural New York, 1907.

Men stand on piles of cut trees in rural New York, 1907.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#14 Lumberjacks float lumber down the Columbia River in Oregon, 1910.

Lumberjacks float lumber down the Columbia River in Oregon, 1910.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#15 Over 100 people stand with a logged giant sequoia tree in California, 1917.

Over 100 people stand with a logged giant sequoia tree in California, 1917.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#16 A lumberjack, 1900.

A lumberjack, 1900.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#17 Lumberjacks among the redwoods in California.

Lumberjacks among the redwoods in California.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#18 Lumberjacks in Washington state.

Lumberjacks in Washington state.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#19 Standing by a Sequioa log in California, 1910.

Standing by a Sequioa log in California, 1910.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#20 A lumberjack stands on a felled spruce tree, 1918.

A lumberjack stands on a felled spruce tree, 1918.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#21 A lumberjack with a redwood.

A lumberjack with a redwood.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#22 A felled Sequioa tree in California, 1900.

A felled Sequioa tree in California, 1900.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#23

Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#24 A lumberjack almost blends in with the cut trees.

A lumberjack almost blends in with the cut trees.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#25 A group in the 1930s moves a log into a river in West Virginia

A group in the 1930s moves a log into a river in West Virginia

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#26 The lumberjacks would often leave their families and live in camps where hundreds of their fellow workers relaxed between grueling shifts.

The lumberjacks would often leave their families and live in camps where hundreds of their fellow workers relaxed between grueling shifts.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#27 Lumberjacks sit on chunks of trees that they chopped down while looking around at the remaining forest surrounding them.

Lumberjacks sit on chunks of trees that they chopped down while looking around at the remaining forest surrounding them.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#28 Three lumberjacks in 1900 stand next to a large fir log which has been cut using a sawing machine in Sedro-Woolley, Washington

Three lumberjacks in 1900 stand next to a large fir log which has been cut using a sawing machine in Sedro-Woolley, Washington

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#29 Lumberjacks in Idaho clear a jam in the 1930s.

Lumberjacks in Idaho clear a jam in the 1930s.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#30 Several log rollers in the 1930s break up a log jam on the Little Fork River during the last log drive on that river in Koochiching County, Minnesota

Several log rollers in the 1930s break up a log jam on the Little Fork River during the last log drive on that river in Koochiching County, Minnesota

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#31 A team of horses pulls a sled filled up with red and white pine logs in Red Lake County, Minnesota, at the beginning of the 20th century.

A team of horses pulls a sled filled up with red and white pine logs in Red Lake County, Minnesota, at the beginning of the 20th century.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#32 Horses were often the hardest workers on many of the logging camps, pulling trees such as these ones seen on a carrying vessel in 1890.

Horses were often the hardest workers on many of the logging camps, pulling trees such as these ones seen on a carrying vessel in 1890.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#33

Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#34 A crew stands among cut old growth longleaf pine near the settlement of Neame, now called Anacoco, in Vernon Parish, Louisiana.

A crew stands among cut old growth longleaf pine near the settlement of Neame, now called Anacoco, in Vernon Parish, Louisiana.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#35 Lumberjacks in Michigan load a series of white pine logs onto a train to be carried to a sawmill.

Lumberjacks in Michigan load a series of white pine logs onto a train to be carried to a sawmill.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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#36 A crew in 1900 Washington state poses next to a donkey engine used for yarding logs, or gathering logs together after they are cut.

A crew in 1900 Washington state poses next to a donkey engine used for yarding logs, or gathering logs together after they are cut.

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Stunning Historical Photos of Lumberjacks who Fell Giant Trees with Axes and Handsaws from the early 1900s

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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