James V. Brown Library - Lycoming County Digital Photo Archive

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About This Collection

Over two thousand (2,000) local historical photographs, drawings and images of old Lycoming County, PA. can be found here. Images are shown in a small version for browsing or as a full size image for detail.

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Chute of the Susquehanna Boom at the foot of Hepburn Street, looking west from Williamsport shore

Susquehanna boom, Lumber industry, Bridges

Chute of the Susquehanna Boom at the foot of Hepburn Street, looking west from Williamsport shore. Maynard Street Bridge at back right of photograph.

Cribbing in Susquehanna River at Williamsport during the height of the lumber era

Lumber industry, Susquehanna boom

Cribbing in Susquehanna River at Williamsport during the height of the lumber era

Cribbing in Susquehanna River used to catch logs during the lumber era

Lumber industry, Susquehanna boom, Railroads, Canals

Cribbing in Susquehanna River used to catch logs during the lumber era. Railroad and West Branch Canal in foreground looking west above Maynard Street.

Cribs (in background) in Susquehanna River which held the logs during the height of the lumber era

Susquehanna boom, Lumber industry, Susquehanna River

Cribs (in background) in Susquehanna River which held the logs during the height of the lumber era

Equipment used on the Susquehanna Boom

Susquehanna boom, Lumber industry, Exhibitions

Equipment used on the Susquehanna Boom

Farewell to the Susquehanna Boom

Susquehanna boom, Lumber industry

Farewell to the Susquehanna Boom

Logs Jammed on Susquehanna Boom

Lumber industry, Susquehanna boom

Logs Jammed on Susquehanna Boom.

Logs on the Susquehanna Boom

Susquehanna boom, Lumber industry

Logs on the Susquehanna Boom

Susquehanna boom, Lumber industry

Logs on the Susquehanna Boom.

Rafting out of the Boom

Rafts, Lumber industry, Susquehanna boom, Loggers

Rafting out of the Boom. Photo shows platform where logs floated into the boom in spring and were rafted out during summer and fall. Here logs were sorted, branded on end to show ownership, floated onto loose rafts and towed or floated to mills. The boom company collected from the owners or consignees, charging a boomage rate on each thousand feet.

Scene on the Susquehanna Boom near DuBoistown

Susquehanna boom, Loggers, Lumber industry

Scene on the Susquehanna Boom near DuBoistown, April 22, 1896

Scene on the Susquehanna boom near Duboistown

Susquehanna boom, Lumber industry, Loggers

Scene on the Susquehanna boom near Duboistown, April 22, 1896

Scene on the Susquehanna River, Williamsport

Susquehanna boom, Susquehanna River, Williamsport, Lumber industry

Scene on the Susquehanna River, Williamsport

Susquehanna Boom

Lumber industry, Susquehanna boom, Loggers

Susquehanna Boom

Susquehanna boom, Lumber industry

Susquehanna Boom. Williamsport's former fame as a lumber center was based on the Susquehanna Boom, of which this is one of the most informative of surviving views. In operation from 1846 to 1909, the "boom", consisting of a series of massive log cribs anchored by stone ballast, with "boom sticks" strung between, each year caught and impounded vast numbers of sawlogs, some of them cut well over 100 miles away, brought down tributary streams and into the West Branch of the Susquehanna in the Spring "drives". Up to 350,000,000 board feet of logs were contained in the boom in a single season. Each log bore the identifying mark or brand of the owner. Here at the "head of the boom" these logs were sorted according to ownership, scaled or measured to calculate "boomage" charges, and made up into loose rafts for delivery to the busy mills lining the river from Newberry to Montoursville. In this scene the "channel" is flanked by a series of "platforms" manned by a "cornerman" and "check-in" man, each commanding a bay in which the logs were collected according to their identifying marks.