In the early days, New Hampshire was full of a most-needed resource: wood. New Hampshire’s tall trees and rolling forests gave rise to a logging industry that supported the state through much of its early development. Logging wasn’t just an industry – it was a way of life for New Hampshire residents. These 11 historic New Hampshire photos will show the logging industry in a way you’ve never seen.

1. These men standing on a pile of logs in Keene in the nearly 1900s shows that hard work didn't stop once the logs were out of the woods.
Keene Public Library/flickr
2. You would never believe that this is a photo of Concord, back when the state capital was little more than a logging town.
Stuart Ratkin/flickr
3. Back in the day there were no massive logging trucks. Logs moved through Keene in a much slower fashion.
Keene Public Library/flickr
4. Rolling the logs onto a transport sled was a massive undertaking.
Forest History Society/flickr
5. Nothing like a little snow to complicate the work for these horses in Gillford in 1939.
Forest Society/flickr

Related Stories

This Is The Most New Hampshire Sound You'll Ever Hear, And We Can't Stop Listening To It

This Is The Most New Hampshire Sound You'll Ever Hear, And We Can't Stop Listening To It

 It's An Epic Aerial Adventure Soaring In The Skies Over New Hampshire

It's An Epic Aerial Adventure Soaring In The Skies Over New Hampshire

 The Whole Family Could Spend An Entire Day Having A Blast At Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel In New Hampshire

The Whole Family Could Spend An Entire Day Having A Blast At Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel In New Hampshire
6. In 1954, horses were working hard to clear the land on Dartmouth College Grant in Coos County.
Forest History Society/flickr
7. Trains were an essential part of transporting lumber out of the Granite State.
David G. Hawkin/flickr
8. Driving logs down the river was dangerous work where men balanced on wood to keep it moving downstream.
Wikimedia/creative commons
9. Berlin was one of the largest logging meccas in the state.
tuckedDB/creative commons
10. Driving around New Hampshire today you still see plenty of logging, like this scene from Andover.
BEV Norton/flickr
11. Logging gets a bad reputation, but it can lead to some beautiful scenery.
mwms1916/flickr

Love New Hampshire history? Check out these 12 photos of New Hampshire in the 1960s!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles