DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — From a father’s rugged life as a scaler in the logging industry to his son’s career in the United States Forest Service, “A Forest Environment” gives readers an intriguing history lesson about the working forest, stewardship, forest management and sustainability.
In his book, author Stephen Law of Dover-Foxcroft takes readers back in history to the river log drives of 1913-1923 and then entertains them with his exploits as a civil engineer with the U.S. Forest Service in national forests across the country.
“I have had so much enjoyment out of spending my whole life in the forest, I just wanted to share that with other people,” Law, 83, said Monday.
Law will autograph his new book from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at Mr. Paperback in Dover-Foxcroft.
Using the journals of his late father, Fred Law, Stephen Law gives a historical snapshot of what life was like in the Moosehead Lake region in those early years. It was a life before bulldozers, when wood was cut by hand, placed on tote sleds hauled by horses and floated downstream, where Moose River had several stores, a school and two churches. His father’s journal writings portray a man who loved the forest, not only for his livelihood but for its recreational offerings — fishing and hunting.
The stories Fred Law told to his son captured Stephen Law’s interest in the forest. He enrolled at the University of Maine, graduated as a civil engineer and entered the U.S. Forest Service. His first stint was in the White Mountain National Forest where he recalls brushes with black bears, hunters and skiers.
Law, who later served at other national forests before landing in South Tongass National Forest in Alaska, recalls in detail the projects he was involved with and entertains readers with humorous accounts of encounters with Mother Nature and with mankind.