Lumberman's Monument is a monument in Oscoda Township, Michigan, United States. It honors the workers who helped build the logging industry in Michigan. The bronze statue, created by artist Robert Ingersoll Aitken, is 14 feet tall. It shows a log surrounded by three figures: a timber cruiser holding a compass, a sawyer carrying a saw over his shoulder, and a river rat resting a tool called a peavey on the ground. The granite base of the statue has an engraving that reads, "This monument honors the first lumbermen of Michigan through whose work the prairie states were developed." The base also lists the names of logging families who contributed to the industry in the area. The monument was built in 1931 and dedicated in 1932. It is managed by the USDA Forest Service. The monument is located along the River Road Scenic Byway, a 22-mile route between Oscoda and South Branch that runs next to the Au Sable River.

The area

The monument is located in the eastern section of the Huron-Manistee National Forests area. The closest towns are Tawas City and East Tawas, which are 11 miles (18 km) to the south. Au Sable and Oscoda are 15 miles (24 km) to the east, and Hale is 11 miles (18 km) to the southwest. In the late 19th century, the area was heavily cut down for timber used to build homes and factories. After the logging industry ended, many trees were replanted in the region, creating the forest that exists today.

Park facilities

The park is open all year and does not cost money to visit. The visitor center and other buildings are open from May to October. Walking paths have exhibits with signs that explain the history of the logging industry in Michigan. The monument has a view of Cooke Dam Pond and Horseshoe Island on the Au Sable River, which was an important path for logging activities.

Logging history

The monument is in a forest that was heavily cut down in the second half of the 19th century. White pine trees, which were common in the forest, were in high demand nationwide for homes, ships, and other products. Much of the housing in the Midwest used wood from Michigan forests. When people learned how large Michigan’s forests were, logging became more popular and profitable. Workers called timber cruisers, who were employed by lumber companies, would examine the forest and choose the best areas for their employers to buy. At that time, land could be purchased for as little as $1.25 per acre. In the winter, sawyers cut down trees, and swampers trimmed the branches. The logs were then placed on sleds and pulled by horses or oxen over icy paths to the nearest riverbank, where they were pushed downstream toward the sawmill. Loggers downstream often faced problems with logs getting stuck together in rivers. Once the logs reached the sawmill, they were cut into boards for use in making homes and factories.

Michigan’s many rivers, lakes, and large areas of pine and hardwood trees gave it a strong advantage in the lumber business. There was plenty of wood to harvest, and the waterways made it easier to move logs. In 1867, land near streams connected to Lake Michigan on the western side of the state was worth about two million dollars, while land on the eastern side was valued at over five million dollars. At that time, Michigan had about 665 sawmills.

The lumber industry in Michigan grew quickly after the Civil War, as the economy improved and cities like Detroit and Chicago expanded rapidly. Production reached its highest levels between the 1870s and 1890s.

The logging industry helped many towns grow, including Grayling, Manistee, Muskegon, and Alpena. By the late 1800s, the old-growth forests in Michigan were nearly gone, similar to what happened in eastern states earlier. Large areas of land were left with few trees. Although people began to understand the need to replant trees, it took many years for new trees to grow. The decline of the lumber industry also caused many towns to be abandoned, such as Alcona, Killmaster (now Gustin Township, Michigan), and 25 towns in Benzie County.

The Lumbermen Monument sculpture was created by Robert Aitken. On one corner of the monument, the words “Aitken Fecit” appear, which means “Aitken made it.” The word “fecit” comes from a Latin verb meaning “to make.”

Gallery

• A broad view of the area with the Au Sable River and Cooke Dam Pond in the background
• An outdoor display showing how a log jam on the river might appear
• A common sled used to move logs to the riverbank