You wouldn't believe it but the pc game "Norco" got me here. Tells about "pull-boats" which got me curious and now I'm in absolute awe. Thanks for sharing this old material! And cheers from Germany o/
My dad was 14 and his brother 16 when they went to work for a logging company near Pierre Part, LA. Almost all of their generation and the previous generation in my family worked as swampers. The town I grew up in, Plaquemine, LA, had at least nine different sawmills, shingle factories, cooperages, and an oar and paddle factory when the harvesting of the cypress was in its heyday. Large rafts from the Atchafalaya Basin were towed to Grand River and Bayou Plaquemine for processing. The swampers and riverjacks were dirt poor and just trying to feed their families. They were paid just enough to eke out a living. The people who got rich were the landowners and the mill owners.
My grandfather was a dredge boat operator around this time for a mill in Donner, La. Amazing that I knew someone in an industry like this. Explains why my father worked so hard to get multiple college degrees.
very rare to find a big enough cypress to make a dug out these days. my great great grandfather did this (well owned the land to do this ). people back then were just tryin to make a buck "The Old People" were so poor most of their kids shared a single pair of church shoes. But as a (half) Houma indian I don't think they needed to almost kill all the big cypress swamps. it takes thousands of years to naturaly grow to a nice size cypress swamp.
Most likely Manchac. A cypress forest destroyed for a few select timber barons. The men you see working were paid next to nothing. The trees, some saplings when Jesus walked the earth, never came back. Nutria, introduced later on, eat the saplings down to the root. Thick mats of water hyacinth, also introduced, suffocate native species.
Amazing stuff. Those were men. No radio or entertainment much. No escape from the heat. Alligators had to be a concern. I can't believe anyone would wear a suit out there. You know it was the hotter part of the year down there. Wild.
Given their placement in the cosmos I'd say they were the most wise in the use of the land. Where were the "brilliant" ideas back then? They were the unwise. They could only think of doing nothing. Turns out to be the "wise" thing to do these days too. Those logging men deserve our reverence. What man today is equal? Far fewer in number I promise.
Are you homeless living under the stars and choosing not to eat and drink? If not, then you’ve contributed in one way or another for the extinction of hundreds of species of animals.
@@tonyromano6220 I do feel a certain way about the destruction of all the cypress stands. Obviously people back then didn't know any better, but they wiped out all the old growth cypress. The largest uncut swath left is 700 acres in Florida. They scale that old growth cypress was wiped out on is almost incomprehensible.
Yeah well, when you're poor, hungry, have a family to feed, and there are no other options, you do what you got to do. Try to think within the context of the times and circumstances. The cypress also built thousands of homes that helped people to withstand hurricanes when there was no Weather Channel to warn them that a Cat 3 was headed their way. It also built boats that made commercial fishing much easier and safer. These people were just surviving the only way they knew how. It damaged the wetlands, yes, but it also forged a part of our unique culture that should never be forgotten. All history, the good and bad, leads us to right here, right now.
Your absolutely right I've been to the manchac swamps and a few others were they're are trying replant cypress tree's but it will be a 100 years before they can return it to a cypress forest I doubt we as humans will make it that long if we keep up with raping of our God given natural swamps and forest land
in Louisiana most of us were pretty good friends with the Cajuns (except for a bit of racism) but we became "civilized" in the mid to late 1800's. Im half Houma indian but im still a native so my opinion counts as far as "native" goes cause I am in the tribe. I say that cause most people say cause im half I have no "voice" (Just Saying)
your house was built out of lumber from those trees. That timber was turned in to wealth that benefitted everyone. Of course they - or someone - should have replanted. Not too late now
bla bla bla ,doesnt mean we have to cut EVERY fucking forest left ,yea thats right not one virgin forest left and you still defend the greedy man ,so like you greedy mofoes.
It must be pointed out that you, as much as anyone, is the cause of what you see as the problem. You use forest products in nearly ever part of your life. You use other products with reckless abandon that come from fields that were once old forests. Your "home", your furniture, clothing, food, MEDICINE, and energy are in part from the forest! Forests also pay the most in taxes in product life cycle. Without those men you wouldn't exist. Name 5 everyday products you use not related to forestry.
Thomas Wightman fuck you and that wats everything you own made of iron. These men would done anything to provide for there families, I'm going cut a cypress tree down just kill it while being destructive
You wouldn't believe it but the pc game "Norco" got me here. Tells about "pull-boats" which got me curious and now I'm in absolute awe. Thanks for sharing this old material! And cheers from Germany o/
Norco is amazing, can't wait for their next game!
No thanks worked NORCO chemical plants and refinery 🤣 !
My dad was 14 and his brother 16 when they went to work for a logging company near Pierre Part, LA. Almost all of their generation and the previous generation in my family worked as swampers. The town I grew up in, Plaquemine, LA, had at least nine different sawmills, shingle factories, cooperages, and an oar and paddle factory when the harvesting of the cypress was in its heyday. Large rafts from the Atchafalaya Basin were towed to Grand River and Bayou Plaquemine for processing. The swampers and riverjacks were dirt poor and just trying to feed their families. They were paid just enough to eke out a living. The people who got rich were the landowners and the mill owners.
My grandfather was a dredge boat operator around this time for a mill in Donner, La. Amazing that I knew someone in an industry like this. Explains why my father worked so hard to get multiple college degrees.
Thank you for posting. Absolutely amazing history!
Great videos on Louisiana swamp logging near Patterson, LA.
very rare to find a big enough cypress to make a dug out these days. my great great grandfather did this (well owned the land to do this ). people back then were just tryin to make a buck "The Old People" were so poor most of their kids shared a single pair of church shoes. But as a (half) Houma indian I don't think they needed to almost kill all the big cypress swamps. it takes thousands of years to naturaly grow to a nice size cypress swamp.
Wow chopping trees while standing in a canoe.....agility!
Really! Those guys were bad ass
@Sherman22ish Probably around Lake Marapaus or Lake Pontchatrain. Manchac swamps have never been the same since the cypress logging of years ago.
Most likely Manchac. A cypress forest destroyed for a few select timber barons. The men you see working were paid next to nothing. The trees, some saplings when Jesus walked the earth, never came back. Nutria, introduced later on, eat the saplings down to the root. Thick mats of water hyacinth, also introduced, suffocate native species.
Amazing stuff. Those were men. No radio or entertainment much. No escape from the heat. Alligators had to be a concern. I can't believe anyone would wear a suit out there. You know it was the hotter part of the year down there. Wild.
Given their placement in the cosmos I'd say they were the most wise in the use of the land. Where were the "brilliant" ideas back then? They were the unwise. They could only think of doing nothing. Turns out to be the "wise" thing to do these days too. Those logging men deserve our reverence. What man today is equal? Far fewer in number I promise.
Sound?
I love the steam engines.
Being a firetender in Louisiana, wow. Tough dude
anyone know where the video of the cocordrie lake loggers is?
And this is why we have no more ivory billed woodpeckers...
Are you homeless living under the stars and choosing not to eat and drink? If not, then you’ve contributed in one way or another for the extinction of hundreds of species of animals.
@@billtalker3843 ok boomer
Joe TheRebellion I’m a Millennial, but ok.
PC people are a riot.
I am a boomer, do not care for destruction of nature. However I understand reality and need of us humans.
@@tonyromano6220 I do feel a certain way about the destruction of all the cypress stands. Obviously people back then didn't know any better, but they wiped out all the old growth cypress. The largest uncut swath left is 700 acres in Florida. They scale that old growth cypress was wiped out on is almost incomprehensible.
Do we know any of the names of the people in the film?
Let’s be honest! They should have replanted
BACKwoods slavrey ?
Where did that come from?
No dumb mf
Hi my family owned the town of Morley in West Baton Rouge Parish. I wonder if this is footage from Port Allen/Morley Louisiana ?
I think its morgan city area
Nice footage,but I think this is from the 40's,the quality of the image can't be from the 20's.
The damage this has done to our wetlands is irreparable.
Yeah well, when you're poor, hungry, have a family to feed, and there are no other options, you do what you got to do. Try to think within the context of the times and circumstances. The cypress also built thousands of homes that helped people to withstand hurricanes when there was no Weather Channel to warn them that a Cat 3 was headed their way. It also built boats that made commercial fishing much easier and safer. These people were just surviving the only way they knew how. It damaged the wetlands, yes, but it also forged a part of our unique culture that should never be forgotten. All history, the good and bad, leads us to right here, right now.
Your absolutely right I've been to the manchac swamps and a few others were they're are trying replant cypress tree's but it will be a 100 years before they can return it to a cypress forest I doubt we as humans will make it that long if we keep up with raping of our God given natural swamps and forest land
Check mate
The trees can be replanted.
The levees, that’s what is continuing to destroy Louisiana. Can’t live with em, and def can’t live without em.
in Louisiana most of us were pretty good friends with the Cajuns (except for a bit of racism) but we became "civilized" in the mid to late 1800's. Im half Houma indian but im still a native so my opinion counts as far as "native" goes cause I am in the tribe. I say that cause most people say cause im half I have no "voice" (Just Saying)
James Verret nice man I’m from Houma
Do you know any varnados? My aunt was someone important with the Jenna band of Choctaw.
No one at the time could for see the erosion that canels would cause especially cross canels 😇
great cut down the trees
Sadly most of the really old and large trees had been loged out by the 1920's
were and are
sad just plane sad why does man find any kind of satisfaction in destroying
your house was built out of lumber from those trees. That timber was turned in to wealth that benefitted everyone.
Of course they - or someone - should have replanted. Not too late now
bla bla bla ,doesnt mean we have to cut EVERY fucking forest left ,yea thats right not one virgin forest left and you still defend the greedy man ,so like you greedy mofoes.
It must be pointed out that you, as much as anyone, is the cause of what you see as the problem. You use forest products in nearly ever part of your life. You use other products with reckless abandon that come from fields that were once old forests. Your "home", your furniture, clothing, food, MEDICINE, and energy are in part from the forest! Forests also pay the most in taxes in product life cycle. Without those men you wouldn't exist. Name 5 everyday products you use not related to forestry.
Toilet paper
@@ClaytonBigsby01 you some kinda special.
No more cypress forests.
too bad we dont have trees like this any more due to the selfishness of the previous generation
@ least they videoed the destruction of the virgin cypress swamps for us to see...
Thomas Wightman fuck you and that wats everything you own made of iron. These men would done anything to provide for there families, I'm going cut a cypress tree down just kill it while being destructive
They weren’t “virgin”, unless you completely ignore Native American, French, and Spanish history.
Go live in a hole in the ground and eat grass. If not shut up child.
Those guys were "wirery" as hell. Not an ounce of fat on them. I'm sure lack of testosterone was not an issue.