ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney-Hopkins
The Ashland Logging Museum sponsored its second Spring Logging Games Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Trotting Park in Ashland.
The Ashland Logging Museum was established in the late 1960s as a way to preserve the history and artifacts from the local logging community. Early on, the museum sponsored a very popular Lumberman’s Roundup featuring loggers competing against one another in traditional lumberman events such as crosscut saw, ax throwing and several more modern events such as hot saws. The Roundup has evolved and is now held as part of the Northern Maine Fair. How lumbermen log has changed over the years. No one uses an ax, and fewer and fewer are using chainsaws. The tools of today’s loggers are skidders, forwarders, processors, feller bunchers and log loaders.
Part fundraiser and part fun, the Ashland Spring Games bring back the spirit of the Lumberman’s Roundup with today’s technology. The main events include a skidder obstacle course where competitors showcase their skill over time, a log loader checkerboard, a log truck cable tie down challenge and a forwarder competition where operators pick wood up off the ground, place it in the bunk of the machine and then have to unload into sorts based on the color painted on the butt of the log.
Several local heavy equipment dealers had equipment on display. For the kids, there was an obstacle course, birdhouse building, a playground and a variety of games to try. Though the weather wasn’t ideal, the community still came out to enjoy and support the event. All funds raised will go to support the Ashland Logging Museum; helping to keep the doors open and to help tackle the large projects such as replacing the sill logs of the scale and cook’s cabin. The event received a tremendous amount of support from Maine equipment dealers and local contractors. The fun events were enjoyed by the participants and spectators.
The placement in the events are as follows:
Log Loader — Rodney Dunn, first place; Rick Worster, second place; and Mark Clark, third place.
Skidder — Matt Carney, first place; Charlie Gilbert, second place; and Buddy Martin, third place.
Forwarder — Colby Bossie, first place; Justin Burby, second place; and Dylan Pelletier, third place.
Tie Down — Dylan Pelletier, first place; Jared Michaud, second place; and Lee Pelletier, third place.
Ongoing events
The Portage Lake ATV Club will meet every first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Office. All are welcome to attend. Contact Rena Belanger for membership or more information at 435-2780.
The Ashland Area Senior Citizens meet the first and third Thursday at noon for a potluck luncheon at the LeBlanc Junkins VFW Post 9699 on the Portage Road with a meeting to follow. This active and growing club of senior citizens also takes trips to various restaurants throughout The County, hosts cookouts, enjoys guest speakers and entertainment such as musicians. For more information, contact Roberta Savary at 435-6422.
The Portage Lake Over 50’s Club lunch is held on the last Tuesday of every month at 11:30 a.m. at the Town Hall. All individuals 50 and over are invited to attend and can bring a potluck dish to share. For more information, contact Jean Clark at 435-8034 or Donna Martin at 435-7108.
The Red Hat Loonies of Portage Lake meet every third Thursday of every month at Dean’s Motor Lodge. Membership dues are $2. Come and have a great meal and a great time, too! For more information, contact Rachel Stevens at 435-6358.
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and the surrounding areas. She can be reached at 227-7760 or Feenhop@aol.com.
