Here’s another view of the railroad work camp at Mosier in November 1900. It looks like chopping firewood was the order of the day, with an occasional break to sharpen the axe.
Surprised to see a work camp in a permanent type structure with a split rail fence
L.E.
When life was harder! Every long piece of wood had to be hand sawn with that big saw. Looks like the cook even got in on the wood splitting.
We had one of those stone grinders in our tool shed. Ours had a seat attached with foot pedals. As a kid I would sit on it and pump the pedals to turn the big stone. Not sure why, but it kept me entertained.
I am more and more impressed with Earl Conser’s photography. He has so much detail.
L.E.
Kenn, I wondered about that in a previous photo of the camp. I wonder if camp was set up near someone’s Mosier farm, or if the team’s of horses were kept close by.
Arthur
Conser’s engineering team spent 2+ years working out of the same camp, which may explain the look of permanence. I think he worked for the railroad only seasonally– he may have been a student at the time.
Buzz
Actually, I thought cutting firewood was kind of fun. In Hood River, my dad would haul a couple of butt cut straight grained logs home on the log truck and I would use a double bitted long handled axe to split it. In Alaska burned mostly birch. Pop it with a splitting maul when it was frozen and it was easy to split. Satisfying to have 10-12 cords of wood under the leanto ready for winter.
j nels
Is there another building behind the first house? What is the finish on the exterior of the house?
Charlott
My grandpa had a grinding wheel with a seat and my brothers put hours on that. I guess it was the forerunner to the modern gym equipment…
Arthur
There are at least two buildings in this frame. They look to be canvas with wood frame doors and a two layer roof. While I was checking the construction I noticed a makeshift sign nailed to a tree near the entrance. I think it says "ENGINEERS OR8" and possible another character or two.
Kenn
Surprised to see a work camp in a permanent type structure with a split rail fence
L.E.
When life was harder!
Every long piece of wood had to be hand sawn with that big saw.
Looks like the cook even got in on the wood splitting.
We had one of those stone grinders in our tool shed. Ours had a seat attached with foot pedals. As a kid I would sit on it and pump the pedals to turn the big stone. Not sure why, but it kept me entertained.
I am more and more impressed with Earl Conser’s photography. He has so much detail.
L.E.
Kenn, I wondered about that in a previous photo of the camp. I wonder if camp was set up near someone’s Mosier farm, or if the team’s of horses were kept close by.
Arthur
Conser’s engineering team spent 2+ years working out of the same camp, which may explain the look of permanence. I think he worked for the railroad only seasonally– he may have been a student at the time.
Buzz
Actually, I thought cutting firewood was kind of fun. In Hood River, my dad would haul a couple of butt cut straight grained logs home on the log truck and I would use a double bitted long handled axe to split it. In Alaska burned mostly birch. Pop it with a splitting maul when it was frozen and it was easy to split. Satisfying to have 10-12 cords of wood under the leanto ready for winter.
j nels
Is there another building behind the first house? What is
the finish on the exterior of the house?
Charlott
My grandpa had a grinding wheel with a seat and my brothers put hours on that. I guess it was the forerunner to the modern gym equipment…
Arthur
There are at least two buildings in this frame. They look to be canvas with wood frame doors and a two layer roof. While I was checking the construction I noticed a makeshift sign nailed to a tree near the entrance. I think it says "ENGINEERS OR8" and possible another character or two.