Timber rafting on the Greenbrier River

 

Timber rafting on the Greenbrier River in West Virginia began in the late 1800s, when the St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing Company was formed to harvest the white pine timber in Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties. The company built sawmills at Ronceverte and other locations along the river, and used log drives to transport the logs to the mills.

The timber was cut in the summer and fall, and hauled to the banks of streams. In the winter, when the water was high, the logs were floated down the streams to the Greenbrier River. The river was divided into sections by dams, and the logs were collected in booms at each dam. The booms were opened periodically to release the logs on their way down the river.

The log drives were a dangerous undertaking. The river was full of rocks and rapids, and the logs could easily jam up and cause accidents. The loggers who worked on the log drives were skilled and experienced, but many accidents still occurred.

The timber rafting industry on the Greenbrier River reached its peak in the early 1900s. By 1920, most of the white pine timber had been harvested, and the timber rafting industry declined. The last log drive on the Greenbrier River was in 1937.

Timber rafting played an important role in the development of West Virginia. It provided jobs for many people, and it helped to open up the state to settlement and development. The timber rafting industry also had a significant impact on the environment, as it led to the deforestation of large areas of the state.