Winfield Scott Gerrish facts for kids
Winfield Scott Gerrish was an important person in Michigan's history. He helped change how lumber was moved in the state. Born in Maine in 1849, he became famous for building a special railroad. This railroad helped transport cut trees in a new way. He died in Michigan in 1882.
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Winfield Scott Gerrish: Lumbering Innovator
Winfield Scott Gerrish is known for making big changes in the lumber industry. He built a seven-mile-long railroad in Michigan in 1877. This railroad went from Lake George to the Muskegon River in Clare County. It was designed to move logs, which are cut trees.
What Was Lumbering Like Before?
Before Gerrish's railroad, lumber companies mostly used rivers to move logs. They would float the logs down rivers to sawmills. Sawmills are places where logs are cut into planks of wood. This method had problems. Rivers could be unpredictable. Sometimes they would freeze in winter. Other times, the water level was too low. This meant logs could only be moved at certain times of the year. Also, very large trees were hard to move this way.
How Did Gerrish Change Things?
Gerrish's idea was to use a steam locomotive on steel rails. He got this idea after seeing a special train engine. He saw a Porter 0-4-0 rod engine at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. This was a big fair in 1876. He realized that a train could move logs much more easily.
The First Logging Railroads
Gerrish's railroad was not the very first logging railroad in Michigan. About 20 years earlier, in 1857, the Blendon Lumber Company also used a steam locomotive. Their railroad was also about seven miles long. It went from Blendon Township to the Grand River. That railroad was successful too. However, Gerrish's railroad became very famous and successful. It showed many other companies how useful logging railroads could be.
The Impact of Gerrish's Railroad
The use of railroads changed lumbering a lot. Trains could carry logs all year round. They did not depend on river conditions. This meant lumber companies could work more consistently. Also, trains could transport any size of tree. This was a huge advantage. It helped Michigan's lumber industry grow even bigger. Gerrish's work helped make logging more efficient and profitable.
