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Films From the Forest History Society

To date the Forest History Society has produced two films on the history of log moving and fire fighting technology and contributed to the creation of a thought-provoking new film history of the U.S. Forest Service. Descriptions of these award-winning films are provided below. For order information contact Andrea Anderson.

      Film Orders
      701 William Vickers Ave.
      Durham, NC, 27701-3162
      Tel.: (919) 682-9319
      Fax: (919) 682-2349

      Order Online   or   Order Form [PDF]

Timber on the Move: A History of Log Moving Technology

Harrison, Clare Co., Michigan. Drawing logs with big wheels by raising them under the axle, 1901. Photographer: W. J. Beal, U.S. Forest Service

Harrison, Clare Co., Michigan. Drawing logs with big wheels by raising them under the axle, 1901. Photographer:
W. J. Beal, U.S. Forest Service.

Timber on the Move documents the development of log moving technology and its impact on the land—from the use of oxen in colonial New Hampshire to the introduction of helicopter and balloon yarding in the 1970s in the Pacific Northwest. It includes historical footage of river drives, big wheels, the steam donkey engine, logging railroads, steam loaders, the Lombard log hauler, and early crawler tractors and fairlead arches. Produced and edited by Vester Dick, the award-winning narrated film runs 34 minutes, with segments in color and black and white. Copies are available at a cost of $25.00 for VHS, $20.00 for DVD, or $90.00 for Betacam SP plus shipping.

Up in Flames: A History of Fire Fighting in the Forest

Smokejumpers about to take offin Ford Trimotor plane for practice jump with static line, Missoula Airport, Missoula, Montana, June 1941. Photographer: K. D. Swan, U.S. Forest Service

Smokejumpers about to take off in Ford Trimotor plane for practice jump with static line, Missoula Airport, Missoula, Montana, June 1941. Photographer:
K. D. Swan, U.S. Forest Service.

Up in Flames documents the development of North American fire detection, communication, and fire suppression technology from the inception of the lookout tower to the weather satellite. Historical footage shows the devastation of fires such as Idaho's 1910 Big Blowup and Oregon's 1933 Tillamook Burn. The impact of these catastrophic fires on the research and development of fire fighting technology is illustrated with scenes of hand tool use, fire plows, aerial tankers, and smokejumping. The multi-agency Operation Firestop in 1954 is highlighted as an example of the cooperative nature of the research and development effort. Vester Dick edited and produced Up in Flames. The narrated film runs 29 minutes, with segments in black and white and color. Copies are available at a cost of $25.00 for VHS, $20.00 for DVD, or $75.00 for Betacam SP plus shipping.

The Greatest Good: A Forest Service Centennial Film

The Greatest Good tells the story of the U.S. Forest Service and the public lands the agency manages. Produced by the U.S. Forest Service and distributed by the Forest History Society, the film weaves historic footage and still photographs with interviews with historians, timber industry and environmental leaders, and Forest Service employees to illuminate the past one hundred years of accomplishments and controversies experienced while managing 191 million acres of America's land. Throughout the film, the question is asked: what is the greatest good? Narrated by Charles Osgood, the two-hour film is available as part of a 3-disc DVD set.

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