Some men of No 2 Unit American Saw Mill based near Creich, Bonar Bridge 1917
The images and letters are courtesy of Stacey York, Mechanic Falls, Maine, USA. The series of images from Stacey are in the sequence on Forestry Memories from No 6282 to No 6298 and forms part of the Forestry Memories Groups collection ‘American Sawmillers in Scotland 1917’.
In the Great War of 1914-18 the UK and its allies were facing severe shortage of timber products to keep the coal mines operating and providing power for manufacturing for the war effort. Timber railway sleepers for the railways to the war front in Europe were urgently required and also wood for manufacturing of boxes and containers for munitions and other products. German submarines were severely interrupting timber imports and there was a great shortage of men to work in the forests and timber industry in UK because they had been called up in their millions to serve in the war effort as soldiers and sailors. An original request for assistance with timber cutting and sawing in British forests from the British Government was directed to the New England States.
A rapid response to the British crisis was taken on board by six New England States and a specially convened committee organised the supply of one sawmill unit funded by each state. The states involved were Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. In addition several individual companies and many individuals provided the necessary funding for a further four sawmill units resulting in a total of ten units and all their equipment being sent to Liverpool and eventually to Ardgay in Ross-shire in the summer of 1917. The timber workers and saw millers were on a contract to the British Government for a period of one year.
The men are outside a small hut, the type of accommodation building for the 35 or so men of the No 2 Unit that was fully equipped and funded by the State of Maine, USA. The camp huts were built under the guidance of Lovell Churchill, who was a carpenter to trade, from the first timber cut by the No 2 Mill Unit. The huts each accommodated eight sleeping men with other huts built as mess room and kitchen, recreation room and office for mill foreman Richard L Melcher Jr. It is interesting to note on the equipment manifesto no actual beds are mentioned and these may have had to be made on site from the cut wood. Apart from blankets and covers the main bedding item listed for each unit was ‘18 of four and half foot wide excelsior mattresses with cotton top’. This would plan out at four mattresses possibly on wooden frames and bases for each hut accommodating eight men! These are most likely the men from the particular camp hut featured.
In addition stables for around ten horses and store rooms were also constructed. The accommodation and mess huts were later lined with heavy waterproof paper and also had some form of wood stove for heating and drying clothes. The actual mill site would have taken a considerable amount of work to excavate, set up the steam engine, the saw bench or benches, log ramps, sawn timber stacking areas and also the roofing weather protection to provide shelter in all weathers. A water supply was also set up by laying iron pipes over ground and gravity fed from a local stream.
The men from this hut have not been named, unfortunately, but some have been recognised. Any further names or corrections would be very welcome. Lovell does mention in his letter that all the other men in his camp hut are from Dixfield, Mexico and Chesterville all State of Maine.
1. ?
2. Leonard (possible only?)
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
6. Lacy W Judkins – ‘Timber scaler’
7. ?
8. Lovell I Churchill – Carpenter and axe man (‘swamper or limber’)
Lovell Churchill from Maine USA, set up in Swordale Wood (Skibo Estate) in sawmill unit No 2, wrote a series of short letters to his parents and sister describing his experiences and adventures. These letters and companying photographs were kept by his parents and then the family. Forestry Memories is very privileged to have been offered the opportunity to place these on the website.
Note that the letters have been transcribed by this writer (Norman Davidson) into UK English and notes added where written words are not deciphered and American language terms not fully understood. Accuracy and interpretation results are far from guaranteed but readers can turn to the PDF link below the text to see the images of the actual letters and form their own opinions.
The letters written by Lovell from 18 July 1917 to 6 September 1917 are transcribed below and he mentions a concert in Bonar Bridge (he is not shown in newspaper as on the programme) , mill and team performing well, outbreak of measles in camp and lancing poisoned left hand.
Lovell writes:
“Ardgay, Ross-shire, Scotland. July 18-1917.
Dear Beryl:
Will write just a few lines as I am lying around the tent and have nothing else to do. Am having great old time and getting fat and lazy. Nights I go down to Ardgay & Bonar Bridge. These are little towns only couple of miles from where I am living. There are no picture shows or theatres of any kind, simply a post office and general stores but it is a place to go anyway.
Friday they have a concert of Bonar Bridge. I think I shall play a couple of popular songs and sing them. They have me on the program any way. I had quite a difficult time getting used to English money but now I can handle it quite well.
Suppose you got the photograph that I sent you from Boston. I called them pretty good myself. I had a great time getting here, was nineteen days going from N.Y. to Liverpool England. Wasn’t the least bit sick and I saw all kinds boats and animals of the sea.
I find the people in this part of the world very nice and quite a nice and quite a few of them know me now. Quite easy to get acquainted.
I suppose Almon & Eugene are well. I thought of Eugene on the 3rd but was on the water so I could not send him anything for a birth day present and it was the same on Mar's birth day.
I can picture Dell & Par haying but my job is swinging an axe when we get started in. I am looking for a letter from some one of home about next Tuesday, as it takes something like a mouth to get an answer.
Some of the boys are homesick out I haven't been taken that way yet. Just soon as I hear that everyone and thing is fine at home I will be all right. You need not worry about me for I am all right. My finger swelled up and started getting sore, but doctor calls on our camps twice each day and he gave me some stuff that fixed it all right. I must ring off now and go to dinner give my love to those at home and any inquiring friends. You must excuse my writing as I use the ground for a chair and my suit case for a writing stand. I miss my Perfection cigarettes and dances for there is no such things here. Respectfully, Brother. No 2 Mill Unit.
Ardgay, Ross-shire, Scotland. July 31- 1917
Dear Mar:
Just a few lines to let you know I am well & having a pretty good time. Saw a newspaper this evening that came from Rumford and there was a little Norway news in it which looked good to me. If you have time send me lithy? a Norway paper or the Democrat once in a while. I haven't got any letters since I came here but am looking some every day now. We are having great luck and have had ever since we started. Thirteen of the men in my unit are in the hospital with the measles. I have had them so that lets me out all right and I haven't been the least bit sick since I started. You need not worry about me for I am fine and dandy all the time. I saw by a London paper where they have drafted men in the states and I am wondering if they got any of my fellow pals.
We are getting along quite well on the mill and will be sawing soon. One of the units are sailing now and we would have been had none of our men been sick.
I meant to have told you while home but forget it. You need not pay any taxes for me in the States this year for I am not expected to pay any there. Suppose Par is haying and getting ready for corn shop work. I would like to be there to the county fair.
Give my love to all at home and take the best of care of yourself. Write as often as you can. Good night. L.I. C.
Ardgay, Ross-shire, Scotland. Aug 6-1917
Dear Par & Mar:
Just a few lines before going to bed. I am chopping every day now and believe me I am eating three meals each day to. We got the mill up and started sawing yesterday. We have had great luck owing to the number of men which we have had to help us, as fourteen out of our thirty six have been in the hospital with the measles but are getting along fine now. We are working ten hours a day through the summer months with Saturday afternoon off. It makes quite long days but they won't be long by and by.
I may want you to send me a couple of pairs of mittens and a few pair of cotton stockings and a pair of woollen stockings later. I am waiting to find out about the duty. I understand we can have stuff sent us without paying any duty but no one is sure about it yet. Should I send for this a little later put in some Every-day-smoke and some Mecca or Perfection Cigarettes. I am dying for a real smoke.
I may send money home to the Paris Savings Bank if I do, let me know if it gets there and how much. I won’t have any there until the 15 of September anyway. I may change my mind and put it in the bank here as the interest is practically the same as that paid in the States.
I am going to a picture show tomorrow night at Bonar Bridge only a half hour walk from camp. There isn’t much excitement here although we have quite good times boxing, playing ball and pitching horse shoes and every Sunday I have a nice long swim in the salt water just across the road from the camp. I wish you could see this country as you can't I shall have quite a tale to tell you when I get home ten months from now or about that. I haven't got any mail from you yet but am living in hope to get a letter this week.
Give my love to Almon & Eugene along with Beryl & Dell. Hoping this note finds you all well and happy. I will draw this to a close.Sincerely Yours L.I.C. No 2 Mill Unit
Ardgay, Ross-shire, Scotland. 21 Aug-1917
Dear Par & Mar:
Received your letters a few days ago and was glad to hear from you all. Was awfully glad to learn that you were well & everything was fine of home
I am getting along all right, am carpentering all the time now getting ready for winter but the time goes rather slow, shall be glad when my contract is up. Had a letter from Perkins along with two others the same day I got yours, so you all see I got quite a bit of news from the States all of once.
I would like to be there to the County Fair, this will make three years that I have missed it. There is nothing to go to here, the town shuts up at light in the evening so well don't bother to go down only on Saturday.
Now I guess you better send me a couple pair of leather gloves and two pair of mittens. I guess you can send them by parcel post. There is nothing else that I need so make the bundle a small one.
I don't know where Carrie Palmer got my picture I never gave her any but I did ask her to send my laundry. If begins to grow dark here now about nine thirty and the air feels like fall. Suppose you are getting hot weather yet. It is getting dark so will close, give my love to all. Sincerely, L.I.C. No. 2 Mill Unit.
Ardgay, Ross-shire Scotland. August 23- 1917.
My dear Par:
Received your letter night and was glad to get it. I am lying around for a few days with a bum finger, something like I have every little while. The doctor is taking good care of it and I guess it will be all right in a few days. I was surprised when I learned that Beryl was going away, although the money is much better but it won’t mean so much to them because they will have to buy so many things that was given them while at home. I don't believe they will stay very long for every one of them will be home sick. I have seen the world far and wide and I know what it means when one starts out to make their millions. You and Mar must be lonesome there alone but if Mar gets too lonesome it would be a grand idea to get someone to come there and stay for I don't like to have her left alone.
Should you sell the place go over in the village and buy a rice place and get away from hard work. Or if you want a farm get one near Paris for you have lived there so many years you would never be contented any place else than there. If you could buy some nice land near the village and some lumber standing, I with another man like Hussey or any handy man, can build you a nice set of buildings with all modern improvements for a great deal less than you could buy them all ready built.
That is a nice place that you all ready have and unless you make a good piece of change don’t sell and be sure and look South Paris only with buying eye before you think of leaving.
That place at the crossing looks good to me and there are lots of others just as good. I am not spending much money here, am going to save it and spend if when I get home. Last pay day I sent eighty dollars to a bank in Lisbon N.H. and next pay day I am going to send fifty more. If I get four percent interest and can draw if when I get back to Boston. I have got to have my teeth all fixed up when I get back they don't stand this kind of a life very well. I have broken two trying to eat some bread.
I am getting along all right so you need not worry the least bit about me for I am quite able to book out for number one self. See I have had quite a few letters from the different towns and cities in the States and they all contain a list of boys that I know who have been called upon to do their bit and hope they will all return without a scratch, for now is a time when everyone is needed.
Give my best regards to that Bill Ripley. Tell him I would love to help get the ice especially when the farmer’s reunion is held. The last few days get me? I must ring off now and have a little nap.
Take good care of yourself and Mar, don’t work too hard for hard work is a thing of the past. Yours very truly, L.I.C. No 2 Mill Unit.
P.S. Was awfully glad the shower did not interfere with the nickelodeon on Harmony St. Ha! Ha! L.
Ardgay Ross-shire Scotland. August 27-1917.
Dear Sister:
Received your letters and card and was surprised when I learned that you had moved away from home. I am glad Dell has a better job but am sorry you left the folks for Mar in so poorly. I hate to have her left alone. I hope if they sell they won't leave Paris for no other place would seem like home to either of them.
I am suffering with blood poison in my left hand. I have got it in good shape this time. Saturday I had it lanced and if is getting along as good as one could expect under the circumstances. Am not working nor haven't been since last Tuesday but guess I will be all right in a couple of weeks. Have a good doctor tending it twice each day. The only fault I can find it, that he is a little rough, but he has so many different calls and cases it keeps him on the hot foot all the time.
Now do as I tell you and not say a word to the folks for what they don't know anything of will never cause them to worry. We are getting our camps quite well along now and will be off the damp ground soon. This country is much damper than the States and we get rain nearly every day now. The climate doesn’t seem to agree with the Americans and I am sure the natives here could never stand the hot weather that you get in the States.
I suppose Walter is the same old chap, just as foolish an ever. I can see where you will have some company now all right. Didn’t the folks hate to have you go away awfully? I can just picture them all alone and you know they never were before. It seems pretty tough to me, for they will miss the boys so and I’ll bet the boys will be home sick too.
I home if they sell they will buy a nice stand in the village or a little farm just out just out of the village, but I sincerely hope they will not think of leaving the town. You may fall in love with McFalls but I just hate the place, myself.
Must ring off now and have a little sleep. Write and give my regards to all.
Sincerely Your Brother. No 2 Mill Unit
Ardgay, Ross-shire, Scotland. Sep 6 -1917
My Dear Mar:
No doubt you will think I am writing rather often but for the past three weeks I have been laid up with blood poison in my left hand. I had it the worst I ever had it, this time. I am getting out of it all right. The doctor certainly took great care of me. He says perhaps Monday he will start me working on some light job. Don’t know how it started but I think I must have got hold of some thistle. This is a weed and it is a great deal worse than a bull thistle and a great deal more poisonous. I get my pay, board and medical treatment this all goes with the job, but I had much rather work for my money.
I have a very nice little camp which I built to sleep in and there are seven other boys which are very good fellows sleeping in here with me. They are all from Dixfield, Mexico and Chesterville Me. Eight fellows in one sleeping camp is all the government will allow so we have four of these camps, one cook and eating house, an office & one recreation camp to each unit.
Later, the Y.M. C. A. of London is going to furnish our recreation camp with books & magazines, one pool table and one Victrola (record player) and boxing gloves. They also will put on a moving picture show in this camp once a week. I haven’t seen a moving show since I left N. Y. city. There is nothing for amusement in these towns and when the days get short these camps are for that purpose. We have one of them to each unit all furnished the same.
Now should you send me anything mark the package like this {Gift Package} and then I won't have to pay any duty - see. I wrote for some gloves & mittens you probably have that by this time. Now I guess you better get me a pair of leather top rubbers. Ten inch tops size eight, and when you send them fill the legs with Prince Albert tobacco & Perfection cigarettes. Clothing & tobacco are two things that we do not like here.
Don’t send anything that it will have to bring back for it is such a job. I have clothing enough so you will not have to send any of that. You keep an account of what you pay out for me while I'm gone and when I get back I will settle for the goods & the trouble. I'll pay to oil my gun and tools such in a while so they won’t rust for I want to use them when I get home.
Had a card from Beryl and she said she was going to like Bog Falls but I’ll bet she will be back with Mar and Par inside of one year.
I am getting along all right, having plenty of good food now and don’t have to sleep out of doors on the ground any more. But I shall be glad when my contract expires and I get back to the States once more and I guess most of the boys will.
Would love to go to Oxford County Fair this year but guess I won’t. Should you see any of my old time dancers give them my kindest regards and tell them I haven’t forgotten how to dance yet.
Take good care of yourself for the time is flying. Only nine months more of this life for me. Love to all, L.I.C.
Would like to take a walk through the garden looking for green stuff.”
Please see the PDF link below to view actual copies of Lovell Churchill’s letters.
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Groups: American sawmillers in Scotland 1917, Caithness and Sutherland, Groups of people, Sawmills, pulp mills, chipboard mills