Life of a Logger
In 1820, all men in one logging camp slept in the same bed under a long blanket. Clothes were dried over a fire on a “stink” pole, which many claimed they could smell a half-mile away.
The harrowing lifestyle of these early logging camps frequently surprises visitors to the Patten Lumbermen’s Museum. The nine buildings of the museum create a timeline of the lifestyle of a Maine lumberman, from the rustic 1820 Logging Camp building formed without a single nail to the larger 1900s cabin with a mess hall and sleeping quarters.
Antique equipment from Maine’s notable contributions to the early mechanization of logging includes the Lombard Steam Hauler, the Peavey Cant Dog and the 1910 Lombard Gas Hauler, a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. Guides explain the significance of these items and describe how Maine became the largest shipping port for lumber in the world by 1832.
Groups interested in sampling a logger’s typical baked beans dinner should visit the second weekend in August for the Annual Bean-Hole Bean Dinner. Cooks bake the beans overnight inside a deep hole.
Shaker Traditions
Few people realize that a small population of Shakers still practices their faith in the United States. Currently, three Shakers reside in the only active Shaker community in the world: the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester.
Groups can visit part of this 1,800-acre farm and six of its historic structures from the 1780s through the 1950s to learn the beliefs, traditions and history of the Shaker community. Exhibit rooms with photographs, artifacts, audio and films explain the religion’s tenants, such as its beliefs in both the equality of the sexes and celibacy.
The 1794 Meetinghouse has been lauded as an architectural marvel. The Shakers have long used the building for its worship services, and exhibits upstairs explore the lifestyle of the Shakers.
Known for their careful craftsmanship, Shaker goods remain in high demand at the community’s Shaker Store, which offers items such as woodenware, baskets and brooms.
A Maritime Heritage
Spanning 450 feet and nearly six stories tall, the massive “Wyoming” sculpture depicting a historic ship allows visitors to sense the enormity of the vessels constructed in Bath, Maine. New England’s largest sculpture is only one of the numerous exhibits and activities available to guests at the Maine Maritime Museum.
The 20-acre campus on the banks of the Kennebec River tells the story of the historic shipyard where large six-mast ships were built on a regular basis. Five original 19th-century buildings, tools and other artifacts sit on display at the museum.
The site’s Victorian-era Donnell House helps guests visualize how lucrative shipbuilding was in Maine. The shipbuilder’s home still contains many of the family’s belongings and other period pieces.
Shipbuilders continue to produce mammoth vessels in the area, which groups can discover on the museum’s Bath Iron Works Story Trolley Tours. After a short video explaining Bath Iron Works’ history, participants sit back for a behind-the-scenes tour of the building of the Navy’s most advanced warships.
