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History Journal #7: Big wheels May 8, 2020

Before you read below, look closely at the picture. Then read and see what you might have missed!

Big Wheels were traditionally painted red. Boyne City’s White Lumbering Company Big Wheels in action!

Michigan logging wheels, also known as big wheels, high wheels, logging wheels, logger wheels, lumbering wheels, bummer carts, katydids or nibs,[2] are a type of skidder. They extended the timber extraction season for the logging industry in the North Woods of Michigan, by removing the need for icy ground to traverse. The logging wheels were a specially designed large set of wooden wagon wheels that could carry logs up to 100 feet (30.48 m) long, several at a time. Silas C. Overpack first built Michigan logging wheels in 1875, at the request of a farmer who had found they were useful for logging over softer terrain.[4][5] At the time Michigan was the nation's leading producer of lumber. He painted his high wheels red.[8] Wikipedia

White Lumbering Company of Boyne City, Michigan used Big Wheels to haul lumber all year round. How many people in the White picture? How many horses? How many logs are loaded on the big wheel? Notice anything else?