The Maine Forest and Logging Museum at Leonard’s Mills in Bradley, Maine, celebrates the woods craft and ways of life of colonists in Maine’s North Woods from the late 1700’s to the early 1900’s. Recent completion of a restored circa 1910 Lombard log hauler – first invented by Alvin O. Lombard in 1900 - added a new feature to their interpretation of the region’s history. Lombard log haulers were used to transport harvested timber from deep in the woods, marking a transition from horse- to steam-powered locomotion. They could pull eight sleds at a time with up to 300 tons of logs.
According to Herbert Crosby, past president of the museum’s board of directors, it took the Museum about 30 years to complete the Lombard log hauler renovations. While a professor of mechanical engineering technology at the University of Maine, Crosby saw the log hauler during the early days of its restoration at the museum and asked if he could get involved. One thing led to another, and he soon engaged UMaine students from his program to join the volunteer crew. By the time the Lombard log hauler was fully restored, 80 students had volunteered their time, each contributing parts they had built and their time to get it in running condition.
The museum invites community members to special events throughout the year, and the video below (narrated by Crosby) highlights activities at the October 2022 Living History days, with an emphasis on the restored Lombard log haulers in use. Below you can also see additional historic photos of the early Lombard log haulers at work in Maine.
You can find more information on Lombard log haulers here.
This web extra accompanies the article The Lombard Log Hauler by Roger Merchant in the Winter 2022 issue of Northern Woodlands.