Description
Built by James Everell Henry, the East Branch and Lincoln Railroad (EB&L) is considered to be the grandest and largest logging railroad operation ever built in New England. In 1892, the mountain town of Lincoln, New Hampshire was transformed from a struggling wilderness enclave to a thriving mill town, when Henry moved his logging operation from Zealand. He built houses, a company store, sawmills, and a railroad into the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River Watershed to harvest virgin spruce. Despite the departure of the last EB&L log train from Lincoln Woods by 1948, the industry's cut and run practices forever changed the future of land conservation in the region, prompting legislation like the Weeks Act of 1911 and the Wilderness Act of 1964. Today, nearly every trail in the Pemigewasset Wilderness follows or utilizes portions of the old EB&L Railroad bed.
With the use of black and white and color photographs, this book explores the history of the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad, while showing the abandoned railroad as it looks today. Beginning in the village of Lincoln, then documenting the early years of the railroad, this work is laid out in chronological order following the path of the railroad and the woodsmen as they moved throughout the East Branch country to harvest spruce.
About the Author: Erin Paul Donovan is a professional photographer based in Lincoln, New Hampshire. He specializes in historic preservation and environmental conservation photography, and has been documenting the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad for a number of years. His work has appeared in numerous publications worldwide; including Backpacker Magazine and Readers Digest, and in publications by the Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Countryman Press, National Forest Foundation, Rizzoli International Publications, and The Wilderness Society. You can learn more about Erin Paul and his photography work here.
Frank Conway (verified owner) –
Excellent book. I especially enjoyed the pages with the current photo compared with the historic photo at the same location. I have the Gove books and this gives a welcome new perspective on the subject. Having hiked a lot of these areas, I find it amazing the scale of industry that was in these woods, in some cases less than 100 years ago.
Mike Saltmarsh –
Absolutely outstanding book. I also enjoy researching of the EB&L and a good deal of the information and most notably the photographs have not been seen before in publication, and provided so much useful insight. Well written, well documented, but knowing Erin's work in both research and photography, this shouldn't be a surprise.
Roland Bourassa (verified owner) –
Being a history buff especially on logging history this book is awesome. Erin done a great job on researching all the information provided .The book was shipped real fast as soon as I got it I had to start reading. Thank you for this book it will be in my library along with all my other logging books.
Mj Pettengill (verified owner) –
I am a historian and author, and I do a great deal of research. This is an excellent book. It contains valuable information about our shared, unknown history. So much of what lies in the White Mountains and woods here in NH, on the surface, is mysterious. Sadly, as a rule, most historical records are incomplete, inconsistent, or inaccurate. Many relics of the past, including numerous railroad tracks, remnants of bridges, and other structures connected to the colossal lumber industry of the 19th and early 20th centuries, are explained in the pages of this book.
I have wandered about and lived near these sites on both sides of the mountains for most of my life. My ancestry is steeped here in the mountains and even in the almost-forgotten lumber camps. My connection to the bones of the land is more substantial and profound because of this book.
The photos are an incredible account of what and who came before us. I recommend this book to anyone interested in our nation's past. I strongly recommend it to those with current or past ties to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. However, it will be enriching for anyone from anywhere. Hopefully, this book is or will be in every school and library in New Hampshire or New England. It has earned a place. There is much rich learning within these pages.
BRAVO!
steve hill (verified owner) –
This is a fascinating annotated graphical history about the impact timber logging had upon the Pemigewasset wilderness, and the consequences thereof, both bad and good. Printed on heavy stock paper, the author pulls together documents and amazing photos, both new and old and of his own, and does the research that tells a most remarkable story, which should be of interest to even the casual reader but especially those of us who want to know our history. Thank you, Erin Paul Donovan, for filling-in the blanks, piecing it all together, making sense of the gorgeous wilderness we humbly walk and hike.
jim viar (verified owner) –
Erin Donovan's thoroughly researched book on James Everell Henry's East Branch and Lincoln railroad provides the reader with insights into the late 19th and early 20th century logging industry in New Hampshire's White Mountains. Many archival photographs, along with Erin's more recent photos, provide a glimpse into Henry's construction of the many railroad spur lines that reached deep into NH's untouched forests. The logging industry made a Henry a wealthy man and in essence created one of the most extensive set of hiking trails in New Enland. This is an essential book not only for railroad buffs but for those wondering just how many of our NH trails came to be.