Hartwick Pines: Reflections on Logging in Michigan and Indiana

This Monday, we had our last Integration Day for the May Term at Au Sable, but I was not prepared for the way this trip would move me. Which emotions I was feeling I cannot exactly pinpoint. Something about the European colonization in Michigan deeply reflected that of my own state, Indiana, and it evoked a sense of mourning for what could have been. I have never seen a true old growth forest to my knowledge, so I was quite excited to be going to Hartwick Pines and to see 350-400 year old trees. Their stature was not something I was prepared for though. Never before had I seen trees as tall as these ones, at least not from what I can remember. (Figure 1). Contemplating how old these trees are and how many moer of them there could be boggled my mind, but also frustrated me.

                                                        

Figure 1: Old Growth White Pine Trees (R Boyd, 2025).

    As we proceded through the trip, we met with the historian, and she showed us the saw blades at the Hartwick Pines Logging Museum, which were used to chop the trees down. She even let us touch a blade which had been maintained for on-site wood cutting demonstrations. (Figure 2). Seeing this saw made me remember the one hanging on the wall of my late grandma's house, which is an heirloom of sorts from her family. (Figure 3). After the trip I contacted my aunt asking if we had any lumberjacks in the family. She told me that we do not, but the saw was used to cut lumber for heat and construction material. Even though my family was not harvesting lumber for work, they still played a part in the heavily agrarian landscape of northeast Indiana, which was formerly forested. Because of this, I found myself motivated to do some research to compare the history of logging in Indiana to that of Michigan to somehow reconcile the damage done and consider how I could move forward with hope for restoration.

                                                        

Figure 2: Saw blade at Hartwick Pines (R Boyd, 2025).

                                          

Figure 3: Saw at Grandma Boyd's House (M Boyd, 2025).

    While I was at Hartwick Pines, we learned about the reasons Michigan's old growth forests were depleted so rapidly. Loggers of the nineteenth century believed it would take hundreds of years to exhaust the forests of Michigan, but with technological advances and growth of logging camps, large amounts of Michigan forests were cleared until the Panic of 1893; a recession, which momentarily halted the logging business. Indiana has a similar history with the hardwood forests, which were almost completely cleared in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. (Ball State University, 2006). Only in 1929, during the Great Depression, did deforestation slow down, due to farmers having to leave their land. (Ball State University, 2006). About 2 million acreas of forest were left by this point. (Ball State University, 2006). Currently 4.4 million acres of Indiana land are forested, which is a significant increase compared to 2 million, but it is still marginal compared to the more than 20 million acres which were forested in the 1700s. (Ball State University, 2006). While we have all this forested land, only about 2,000 acres are old growth forest. (Indiana DNR, 2021). There is no set number of acres of old growth throughout Michigan, but there are 12 old growth forests remaining in the state. (97.9 WGRD, 2024).

    Logging is still an important industry in Indiana and Michigan. Indiana is the third largest producer of hardwood lumber in the United States, while Michigan is also a major lumber state, with timber covering about 48% of Michigan's land. (Indiana Association of Consulting Foresters, 2021; McNeil, 2017). Thankfully as philosophy on natural resource extraction has shifted towards prioritizing sustainability. This does not mean we do not have work to do, though. Before leaving Hartwick Pines, we discussed the Five Steps of Moral Agency. It starts off with what seems to be a simple step: recognizing the harm done. This can be difficult to admit though, especially when it is not of our own doing, but our inheritance from poor land management techniques. While the lumber industry in the United States has improved, there is still deforestation happening at alarming rates in other parts of the world. This is where we take the second step: acknowledging our complacency. It is difficult (and arguably impossible) to avoid purchasing products with an unsustainable origin, but we can make a positive change by reducing our spending on unnecessary items, and researching where we purchase from when we do need to buy a new item. Thirdly: we need to take steps to make change, such as advocating for protection of old growth forests and other lands, and policies, which hold logging companies to a high standard of sustainability. In the United States I think we generally do quite good at this, but we need to be willing to protect our lands when protections are being undone. The fourth step: seeking reconciliation ties somewhat into step three. We can give our time, money, or other resources to help protect our local lands. Often there are organizations nearby which you can work with to do this. One organization is ACRES Land Trust, in northeast Indiana and bordering parts of Michigan and Ohio. Finally, step five: make new relationships. It is important to know who is in your community. Being involved, you will better understand the needs and interests of the people around you, and be able to share the importance of preservation and restoration of the forests in Michigan, Indiana, or wherever else you may find yourself. Through our hard work, we can ensure a healthy, forested future for the generations to come.

Sources:

“Forest FAQS – Indiana Association of Consulting Foresters.” Indiana-Acf.org, 2021, www.indiana-                      acf.org/forest-faqs/.

“Our Land, Our Literature: Environment - Deforestation.” Bsu.edu, 2006,                                                                  www.digitalresearch.bsu.edu/landandlit/Environment/Issues/Deforestation.html.Preserves,                       Nature. 

“Old Growth Forests.” Nature Preserves, 29 Jan. 2021, www.in.gov/dnr/nature-preserves/old-growth-                    forests/.Summer. 

“Michigan Agriculture & Lumber Facts - MADA.” MADA, 17 July 2017,                                                                  www.michiganada.org/michigan-agriculture-lumber-facts/.Tommy McNeil. 

“Explore Michigan’s 12 Rare Old-Growth Forests: A Hiker’s Delight.” 97.9 WGRD, 26 July 2024,                           wgrd.com/old-growth-forests-michigan/.