The late 19th century brought countless changes to the face of Florida. The landscape of towering pine trees and expansive cypress swamps across the state invited new inhabitants and pioneered new industries, including several northern logging companies. In those early years, armed with only axes, saws and strong backs, loggers clear cut the longleaf pine forests and harvested the giant cypress. The hardwood trees had been growing for centuries, producing only an inch of growth in diameter every thirty years. It can take up to 500 years for heart pine to mature.
These pine and cypress logs, some thousands of years old, were then rafted together and
floated downriver to nearby sawmills. It has been estimated that nearly 20 percent of these
cut timbers became waterlogged and were either cut loose or sunk while in transit and were lost to lake and river bottoms where they were preserved by the cool water and lack of oxygen. In a time when America was covered by plentiful forests, there was no need — or method — to retrieve these majestic trees from the dark depths of their watery resting places.
floated downriver to nearby sawmills. It has been estimated that nearly 20 percent of these
cut timbers became waterlogged and were either cut loose or sunk while in transit and were lost to lake and river bottoms where they were preserved by the cool water and lack of oxygen. In a time when America was covered by plentiful forests, there was no need — or method — to retrieve these majestic trees from the dark depths of their watery resting places.
A century or more later, these timbers from old growth virgin forests now emerge from the
river as one of a kind treasures. Just as a great vineyard knows that the passing of time is essential to the wine's quality and value, so the river's impact on these logs over the last two centuries has preserved the wood and created a finite resource with unique color and mineralization. What was once a profit loss for a big company, cut free and forgotten at the bottom of the river, is now a beautiful and treasured piece of history.
river as one of a kind treasures. Just as a great vineyard knows that the passing of time is essential to the wine's quality and value, so the river's impact on these logs over the last two centuries has preserved the wood and created a finite resource with unique color and mineralization. What was once a profit loss for a big company, cut free and forgotten at the bottom of the river, is now a beautiful and treasured piece of history.
Our trees are so important to our ecosystem, and our well-being, that Anglewood Penworks has pledged that for every Darkwater pen sold, we will plant a tree in one of our national forests.
All photos from Florida State Archives www.floridamemory.org
TO SEE THE DARKWATER PENS FOR YOURSELF, AND MY OTHER HISTORIC WOOD PENS, VISIT THE ETSY SHOP:
Wood Pens From Anglewood Penworks
Wood Pens From Anglewood Penworks