The Maine Frontier
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A story about Jigger Jones- legendary river driver form Fryeburg Maine. Jigger was tough even at the usually tender age of 12, a fact, which he quickly proved during a mealtime scuffle with a grown man twice his size upon his arrival at a logging camp. Conversation at dinner was forbidden, a custom, which was challenged by a new group of loggers who arrived in camp with heavy hangovers, just in time for supper. When one of them insisted on talking loudly at the table, Jigger dutifully told him to shut up, prompting the elder man to jump the boy and push him to the floor where he pounded him. Jigger hugged the big drunk close, set his keen young teeth into an ear, and hung on. When some of the crew pried the pair apart, a good hunk of the ear remained in Jigger’s mouth. In honor of the young “cookee’s” grit and vigor, the crew passed around a hat and bought Jigger a fine new red woolen shirt and a full pound of B. & L. Black chewing tobacco. (photo: Plymouth State University- Museum of the White Mountains)
Fishing camp on the Sheepscot River, Alna, Me
Family camp in The County (ca. 1895)
Aroostook County camp, photo by EB White, 1895
Hunting camp, late 1800s
Aroostook County (ca. 1890)
River drivers (ca. 1890)