Ox Logging Demonstration in Northampton January 23rd

Ox Logging Demonstration in Northampton January 23rd

Want to see a bit of forgotten history come to life? Come see how logs were moved a century ago  Come to Northampton on Tuesday, January 23rd, at 11 a.m. to see horse logger and forester Tom Jenkins skid some pine logs with his team of oxen.

Teams of horses and oxen were the primary means of moving heavy logs during logging operations in New England until after World War II when they were supplanted by mechanized equipment.

Forester and oxen driver Tom Jenkins of Blue Dog Forestry in Westhampton will bring his oxen “Rock” and “Star” to Historic Northampton for an outdoor demonstration on oxen logging.  After the 45-minute presentation, Rock and Star will drag logs from Historic Northampton at 46 Bridge Street down Bridge Street to 33 Hawley Street. Everyone is invited to join the parade and follow.

The logs that he will be dragging are from two white pine trees that were taken down last week at Historic Northampton. The trees, which were about 40 years old, were removed in preparation of solar panels being installed on the roof of the museum’s Damon Education Center.

Jenkins works as a private forester and has been logging with oxen for more than a decade.​

For more information, see https://www.historicnorthampton.org/oxen-logging.html or call Laurie Sanders at 413 584-6011.