More than axes and cross-saws: N.B. Woodmen's Museum showcases history of logging

Lumber camps were once a way of life for many New Brunswickersduring the long winter months.

They would crowd into small shacks, sleep side-by-side and eat meals on long wooden benches before beginning the day's logging.

The lumbermen would work other jobs as well, such asfarming and acting as fishing guideson the Miramichi River.

Original pieces of this history are still kept in the province to this day in Boiestown on the 15-acre property of the Central New Brunswick Woodmen's Museum.

The collection of axes, canoes, tree bark and replicas, along with cabins and Quonset huts, tells the story of the men who worked in the camps.

But two years ago, thathistory was put at risk of disappearingbecause of a flood that destroyed artifacts and paper archives in the museum's main building.

Now, with the help of government funding and community members, vice-president Greg Munn said the museum is finally getting its "chin above water."

"Thelumberingindustry was important to New Brunswick in general, and it plays a big [part in the] history of where we've come fromand the hard work that's been put into settling these small towns and villages," said Munn.

"And I think it's important that we can look back and appreciate the work that's been done to see where we are today."

In April 2021, Munn got a call during the early hours of the morning after just getting off a night shift. The museum director at the time toldhim the main building was fillingwith water.

Munn rushed to the property, about a 20-minute drive, and even though the door had been opened to let water flow out, he said it was still knee deep.

Within the hour, the fire department was there and community members came to help.

"We had volunteers show up and we were filling[sandbags] and pushing out water and trying to save artifacts and putting them up to the second floor. So it was a hectic day," Munn recalled.

Christine Jean, the current director of the museum, said she was made aware of the flood during her interview for the job last year.

She said she was told that some artifacts and archives were damaged during a flood, but it wasn't until she began in her new role that she realized the extent ofthe problem .

Today, piles of archival material still sitin freezers at the museum awaiting digitization, in an attempt to stop the water-damaged papers from becoming mouldy.

The flooding caused damage to the main building's foundation and all the carpets needed to be replaced, said Jean.

A large berm was built on the property to stop and absorb any water flowing downhill. and additional culverts were added to the stream for better water flow.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Regional Development Corporation contributed just over $208,000 for the repairs, while the remaining 10 per cent will be paid for by the museum.

Still, Jean said for the non-profit, 10 per cent is a lot when referring to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Along with that, at the time of the flood, the museum incurred high costs in the form of hydro bills as dehumidifiers were running constantlyand the heat had to becranked to dry out the building.

Despite the mountainof costs, Jean said preserving the history is important.

"There's no better place to experience the history of a place than to be in that place," she said.

"So this is a place where lumbering is really important. It has contributed to the lives of almost everybody who lives hereand to be able to understand and explore that history, there's no better place than here."