Collections
MF 016 “Deering Lumber Company”
Interviews
Number of
Interviews: 14
Dates when interviews were conducted: 1980
Time period covered: 1920-1960
Principal interviewers: Michael Chaney
Finding Aides: brief indexes
Access Restrictions: none
Description: The collection consists of fourteen interviews
with employees of the Deering Lumber Company in Biddeford, Maine, by
Michael Chaney in the summer of 1980. This project led to the
publication of White Pine on the Saco: An Oral History of River
Driving in Southern Maine (Northeast Folklore XXIX:
1990). Interviewees discussed local history; Indian lore of the Saco
River Valley; 1947 fire; river drives on the Saco River; working as
a scaler; river drives on the Saco River; Frank Brown, who was a
boss for the Deering Lumber Company; working as yard and mill
foreman; working as a trucker; working as a sawyer and mill foreman;
working in the sawmill; and working as a salesman for the company
from the 1950s to the 1970s.
1401 Chaney, Michael. Summer 1980. Maine: Hollis Center. 27
pp. Tape: 1 hr. w/ cat. Interview with Clyde Smith about
local history; Indian lore of the Saco River Valley; 1947 fire;
family history. Deering Lumber Project. T1540
1402 Chaney, Michael. Fall 1980. Maine: Biddeford Pool. 56
pp. Tape: 2 hrs. w/ cat. Interviews with Joseph G. Deering
about the river drives on the Saco River; the Deering Lumber
Company. Photos, P4873 - P4877, P5026. Deering Lumber
Project. T1541 - T1542
1403 Chaney, Michael. Fall 1980. Maine: Cornish. 35 pp. Tape:
1 hr. w/ cat. Interview with Ken Blaney about his work for
the Joseph Deering Lumber Company as a scaler. Photos, P4875 -
P4876, P4879, P5026, P5029. Deering Lumber Project. T1543
1404 Chaney, Michael. Fall 1980. Maine: Fryeburg. 43 pp.
Tape: 2 hrs. w/ cats. Interviews with Leo Bell about his work
in the woods and on the Saco River for the Deering Lumber Company.
Photos, P4874 - P4878, P4882, P4885 - P4886, P4890. Deering
Lumber Project. T1544, T1552
1405 Chaney, Michael. Fall 1980. Maine: Cornish. 45 pp. Tape:
2 hrs. w/ cats. Interviews with Ed Burrill about his life on
the Saco River as a river driver for the Deering Lumber Company.
Photos, P4874 - P4878, P4880 - P4881, P4885 - P4886, P5024 -
P5026. Deering Lumber Project. T1545, T1556
1406 Chaney, Michael. Fall 1980. Maine: West Buxton. 27 pp.
Tape: 1 hr. w/ cat. Interview with Clarence Brown about river
drives on the Saco River; his father, Frank Brown, who was a boss
for the Deering Lumber Company. Photos, P4877, P4887. Deering
Lumber Project. T1546
1407 Chaney, Michael. Fall 1980. Maine: Saco. 83 pp. Tape: 2
hrs. w/ cats. Interviews with Charlie Foran about working for
the Deering Lumber company as yard and mill foreman. Deering Lumber
Project. T1547, T1558
1423 Chaney, Michael. Fall 1980. Maine: Lovell. 16 pp. Tape:
1/2 hr. w/ cat. Interview with Ralston Bennett about working
for the Deering Lumber Company as a trucker. Deering Lumber Project.
T1551
1424 Chaney, Michael. Fall 1980. Maine: Lovell. 26 pp. Tape:
1 hr. w/ cat. Interview with Roy Smith about his work as a
river driver for the Deering Lumber Company. Photos, P4873,
P4875, P4877 - P4878, P4880 - P4881, P4884 - P4885, P4887, P5029 -
P5030. Deering Lumber Project. T1552
1424 Chaney, Michael. Fall 1980. Maine: Lovell. 26 pp. Tape:
1 hr. w/ cat. Interview with Roy Smith about his work as a
river driver for the Deering Lumber Company. Photos, P4873,
P4875, P4877 - P4878, P4880 - P4881, P4884 - P4885, P4887, P5029 -
P5030. Deering Lumber Project. T1552
1426 Chaney, Michael. Fall 1980. Maine: Fryeburg. 21 pp.
Tape: 1 hr. w/ cat. Interview with Chester Leonard about work
as a sawyer and mill foreman for the Deering Lumber Company. Deering
Lumber Project. T1555
1427 Chaney, Michael. Fall 1980. Maine: Saco. 29 pp.
Collection of 43 photographs, news clippings, and other written
material pertaining to Joseph G. Deering & Son Lumber Manufacturers
and the Saco River Driving Company; see photos, P4873 - P4908,
P5024 - P5026, P5029 - P5032. Deering Lumber Project.
2010 Chaney, Michael P. Deering Lumber Project: 1987. New
Hampshire: Sanbornville. 86 pp. Tape: 1 1/2 hr. approx. w/cat.
Interview with Ralph Morin about his work in the sawmill at
the Deering Lumber Co., Biddeford, Maine. Also, description of
Morin's work as a salesman for the company in the 1950's-60's, and
his work in the 1970's in the retail department. Other material
includes letter to E. D. Ives, list of interviewees with additional
info., maps of layout of plant, 43 photocopied photos on file at
NAFOH. See NA 1401-1407, 1423-1426. P4873 - P4908 / C497
2194 Chaney, Michael. Fall 1989. Maine: Saco. 5pp. Tape: 30
minutes with catalog. Interview with Phyllis F. Deschambeault
about her work for J.G. Deering & Son and Deering Lumber Company
since the 1940’s. P4873 - 4908, P5024 - 5026, P5029 - 5032.
(see NA 2195) C745.
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