History Sandwiched In

media release: Wish there was a way to get a crash-course on the most unique aspects of Wisconsin history in one place? Look no further than History Sandwiched In, where scholars, historians, authors and community members from across the state join together to hold engaging discussions on wide-ranging historical topics of interest. Learn about the people, places and stories that shaped—and continue to shape—the Badger State.  

Nov 19 – Step back in time and journey to the towering white pines of northern Wisconsin with author Susan Apps-Bodilly as she presents on her and co-author Jerry Apps’ new book, Timber! A Northwoods Story of Lumberjacks, Logging, and the Land. Drawing from primary sources including letters, postcards, and other historic materials, Apps-Bodilly recounts the history of Wisconsin's logging boom, the devastation it caused, and efforts to restore the land and achieve sustainable logging practices.  

more on the book:

Over 200 years ago, forests of giant white pines covered Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest. Revered for thousands of years by the Native peoples, the Northwoods were forever changed with the arrival of European and American migrants in need of lumber, as towns and cities grew with the westward expansion of the United States. The logging boom was on!

In Timber!: A Northwoods Story of Lumberjacks, Logging, and the Land, a new nonfiction children’s book from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, father-daughter duo Jerry Apps and Susan Apps-Bodilly explore the history of Wisconsin’s logging boom, its devastating impact on the land, and the extraordinary efforts to restore and protect our great forests for future generations.

Geared for students in grades 3–5, this comprehensive, easy-to-read history helps young readers examine a complex and pivotal chapter in our state and nation’s history, utilizing a host of primary sources and engaging discussion questions to encourage thoughtful conversations. Timber! also features more than 100 images, a glossary, and suggested activities, plus an extensive list of resources, including books, websites, teaching materials, museums, and outdoor places to visit.

Timber! will inspire readers of all ages to explore, protect, and learn about trees in their own communities.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Susan Apps-Bodilly is a retired elementary and middle school educator. She is the author of One Room Schools: Stories from the Days of 1 Room, 1 Teacher, 8 Grades; Seeds in Soil: Planting a Garden and Finding Your Roots; and co-author, with Jerry Apps, of Old Farm County Cookbook, all published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press.

Jerry Apps is a well-known rural historian and professor emeritus for the College of Agriculture and Life Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the author of more than 50 books for adults and children, including Wisconsin Agriculture: A History; Garden Wisdom: Lessons Learned from 60 Years of Gardening; and When the White Pine was King: A History of Lumberjacks, Log Drives, and Sawdust Cities in Wisconsin, from which Timber! is loosely adapted.