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Log Drives On The Connecticut River

Vermont Historical Society
Log drives on the Connecticut River lasted into the 1940s, but the last major drive was in 1915.

The last major log drive on the Connecticut River was held in 1915. The drives would start in late spring and last through the summer and could jam the river from Bellows Falls to Barnet, a distance of 80 miles.

We talk with author and writer Mark Bushnell and Tom Slayton, editor-emeritus of Vermont Life Magazine, about the dangers, the thrills and the folklore of the drives. And  author and former Connecticut River Commissioner Nat Tripp discusses the environmental impact the drives had on the river.

The Barnet Historical Society will be holding a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the last major log drive on August 1.

Also on the program, we talk to Brett Seymour, winner of the Make the Cut homebrew competition about how his winning schwarzbier went over at this weekend's Vermont Brewers Festival.

Plus, we go to summer school to learn how to tell chilling ghost stories from Thea Lewis of Queen City Ghostwalk.

Broadcast live on Monday, July 20, 2015 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Ric was a producer for Vermont Edition and host of the VPR Cafe.
Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
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