Equipment and innovative processes increased the efficiency of logging during its boom years. We have some of the only equipment still in existence. Come see these gems from the lumber era!
Clyde Rehaul Skidder
The Museum boasts a rare Clyde Rehaul Skidder—a massive piece of equipment. This piece of equipment pulled harvested logs to the rail track for loading on log cars. From attached booms, four cables pulled logs from nearly 1,000 feet and then the cables returned to the area of cut logs—hence the name, "rehaul." It could at one setting on the track pull logs from a 40-acre area. The logs would be loaded on rail cars by a steam-powered loader. This is the only steam-powered skidder known to now exist. It was so powerful that little standing vegetation remained after its operation.
McGiffert Log Loader
On the track in front of the Machine Shop is a McGiffert log loader, one of two owned by the Museum. This one has been under restoration by two volunteers for several years. The loader moved along the track to where the Clyde Skidder had gathered logs. Once at a setting, the loader lifted its wheels up under the cab/deck floor. When the wheels were raised, the shoe at the bottom of the legs would rest on the ends of the ties outside the rails. With the wheels raised, the loader could pull empty log cars though the opening to be loaded.
Tracked Equipment
Necessary over the unpaved and often muddy areas of logging operations, the invention of tracked equipment was a boon to the industry. There are still many tracked machines in use today, such as Catepillars, and Insley brands.
