-Hi, I'm -Eric Ford for made Here.

-Herb Di Gioia and David -Hancock's Vermont People -series documented life -!in rural Vermont in the 1970s, -exploring aspects of working -class America.

-Chester Grimes, from 1971 -tells the story of a 70 year -old logger who still worked -full time in Northern Vermont -with his team of horses.

-We first premiered -this film back in 2017 -and are delighted -!to bring it back to you again.

-You can watch three films -!from the Vermont People series -!films streaming on our website -and through the PBS app.

-Enjoy the -film and thanks for watching.

-You can log with horses today -!just as well as you could ever -to anyone.

Pull out just as many logs as any tree skidder, -if you had somebody helpin.

-But youve got -no help to do it.

-!

'Cause nobody knows enough to.

They've brung so many motor vehicles that they'd take a team -like this team and theyd -kill 'em right here.

-there wouldnt -be a hide left on 'em.

Theyd throw 'em in the barn here and throw them -and they neverd -seem 'em again 'til mornin.

-And if it rained a week -or two, theyd come up -once a day and feed 'em.

-!And the horse cant stand that -kind of stuff, thats all.

-They got be took out.

-Thats -why they dont like horses.

-They want a skidder -or a tractor they can jump off and leave it.

-And if it rains the next day, -they aint got to go near it.

-They don't care what it costs -to 'em, nor -how much it costs, -nor nuttin, 'cause they -!paid down two or three hundred -dollars on it, or five.

Rest of it's financed.

And if they lose it -they'll go to somebody else -and get another one.

-Thats the way -I figure they figure it.

-If they can get a living, -thats all they care 'bout.

-And that's all youre gon -get anyway, -and that's what they figure.

-That's what I figure - 'bout the way theyre -goin.

-Whoa!

-Okay.

-But there -aint much more I can do.

-If I go somewhere -and try to hire out, -!

"How old are you?

I tell 'em.

- "Oh, well, I'm sorry.

-I cant get any.

-Ive got to lay 'em off.

Ain't that what they do?

-Back, Chub, back!

-Gee, gee, gee.

-Whoa.

Back Chub.

-Back, back, back, back!

-Back, Chub.

Back, back.

-Back, Chub, back.

-Back, back, back, back.

-Back, back, whoa.

Easy -Whoa.

Whoa.

Easy.

Easy.

Whoa.

-Whoa.

Easy.

Back!

Easy.

Whoa!

-Back.

Whoa!

Back.

Back.

-Easy.

Back, back, back.

-Easy.

Cause if you don't know what you gonna -do with the top log -thar, thats it.

-They want you leave it -in the woods and let it rot.

-And I cant see - -You boys are right here.

-You can look yourself.

If you -cut off a limb off from -thar and take it above -that crotch, -if its sound, -that big bunch in it, -if thats sound there -and sound up that next limb, there's a 12 foot log right -there, and theres -one knot on it.

-saw some pieces -out of that side of that.

-It aint no knots in.

-If you saw it right, I cant -see why 'tis.

-Then youve got short -pieces under your limb -and the other side of it -just smooth as a butt log is.

-Eight feet -six, -eight feet long.

I dont see why it aint worth savin.

-Its all cut up for furniture -anyway.

-I dont -see why 'taint worth savin, -but the mill men dont -want it.

-Thats all.

They wont -take it.

Thats all.

-If they do, they -wont give ya nuttin for it.

-Nothin.

-Dont pay to cut it -and get it out and truck it.

-You cant do it.

-Gotta get enough to live but I try.

I don't do nothin.

-I know they dont wanna buy -my logs and things, 'cause -I make 'em take it all, -and they dont want to.

With spruce, youre different now, you can -sort out some spruce logs -and then get rid of the top.

-But this stuff, hardwood -like this, you go to cut and -get enough out of it, -they dont want it, -and thar you be.

-They dont pay enough -so you can cut it.

That's all there is to it Thats what I'm driving at.

-Back, Chub!

-Back.

-Now I'm -going out with that load -- Ho!

Where's the other one?

-- Right in the truck.

-!- You think that would help him -to roll that [---] down -the inside?

-- Yeah in the front.

-- You mean in the front?

Lower the one in the front?

In the inside.

-Dontcha think itd help him?

-- Yeah.

Thats all right.

-We will.

-Alright kid.

-Get in there.

-Up!

Whoa.

-Its everything we can there.

-Gotta get some more out.

-Just about that much more -Yeah.

Yep.

Put the other side.

-Get over there!

Get over!

-Back Up!

Back up!

Back up!

-Get over there.

-Whoa.

-Come on.

-Whoa.

-You know, I mean, -theyre heavy, and this one -right there is always doing -that front, you know.

-[INAUDIBLE] : - Yeah I know -he does.

-Thats right.

Ill agree with -you.

-- How much do I owe ya?

The best horse should get in the barn -and take him up to the woods -and well hitch -whippletree -to whippletree with him.

-I says, "The one well take - -- Now hush you up.

-I want a mare to raise -some colts up.

-- Well, she did throw out -a nice one last spring.

-- You know Bradys -Frances -Bradys got a colt outta her -right now.

A nice one.

--Who?

Frances Brady.

-!-I do I want some - I want a mare -to raise some colts up.

-- You wanna see him?

I do.

He's right in that truck with me because theres a guy from -Lancaster -coming up this afternoon.

-But you talk about a nice -mare.

-But Im gettin to be -an old man.

-I'm seventy years old.

-- Well, Jesus, youre -right in the prime of life!

-Im seventy-one!

-Well you go up and -take hold of that mare in -the woods.

Youll see.

-- Well I - -!- Shes a young mare, and oh... -- Well thats what - -I like 'em that way.

-- Yeah, well, you come up.

It was- I'll put her in the yard.

-Come on up and take her out -this afternoon.

hire a good man to yard for you would you?

-- Yeah, youre goddamn right, -for the time youd last.

Well, wont take long.

-I - Wont take long.

-Ill get it.

-You give me a day, and she'll be goin - -- Thats all hardball.

You never - You give me a day, -and the next day, shell -go without drivin.

-- Oh.

You wouldn't have nothin like that in Maine.

-The horses would be right out -here up there.

-Yeah, but Jesus Christ, you -dont know what thats for.

-You f--- fools from Maine -don't know enough to hitch up -a horse.

-- Oh, b---.

-- Well b---.

When youre goin down - you call that f--- pole off?

-If I wanted to push you, -I couldnt do it, -and I can push you with that -f--- pole.

Oh Sh-- got room for a horse's head.

Gotta steer it.

-back there, -or out here on the end?

-- You gonna get a hold of -the end of that and steer it!

-!- Oh, Jesus Christ, whats that?

-Six inches?

Yeah, but look where your horse is at.

Back here.

Thats where you want 'em.

-Back thar.

If they saw you come in - You dont want 'em up 24 foot from the sled.

-- If they - If you -- Thats why you f--- cant -draw nothin.

-- Horse---.

-- Goddamned old duffers.

-You cant draw nuttin.

-You wanna hitch 'em out -too far away from the sled.

-- Theres one - -!- Oh, I know you old Vermonters.

-- One more short one.

-I aint from Maine anyway.

-I know that you goddamned -b---- have to come down here -an get a livin.

-- Yeah, come down -and help you out -a little bit.

-- Theres one more there.

-I cant reach it.

-I cant reach it.

Like a lot of that is too small.

See there's a log that's too small.

-!- Well you aint got to put it -on.

Don't be b----.

-If I didnt put it on, I -wouldnt have anything.

Bulls---!

I didnt cut this best -this load.

Oh, you cut the s-----?

-No I didnt, -I put in some good logs.

-But I've got some logs.

-- Where are they?

-- Up in the woods.

-They aint cut, -but we're gonna cut 'em -if we can get any scale out of 'em.

If we ain't gonna let 'em grow.

Well, you wanna cut the good -!ones first, and f---- the s----.

Oh, f---- this.

You might die 'fore you get around to the s--- If I die, the other fella can cut 'em.

You don't wanna worry about the other guy.

I do worry about him.

Half the world's men F--- the other half.

-You wanna be sure -you f--- your half.

[LAUGHING] -- Ive probably -done that now already.

Yeah.

-From what I've heard, -I think you have.

See that's a good log you left right there.

-and one right -here, and two down there.

-Three down there.

-- If I don't have a flat tire -!when I get back, I'll swing in -and see you tonight.

-If I dont, Ill stop and see you in the mornin.

-- That alright?

I want some money.

-Thats all I want.

Give you some now -if you want it.

-- No.

F--- you.

You bring back a slip.

-I want to see how -they use ya.

-- All right.

-- If you - -!If you use me good, Mike, Ill -cut them big ones for ya.

If ya dont, I ain't going to.

-- The [---] comes -with the scale - --Well, I dont give a f---.

-Youre in the truck.

Good farm -like this within 15 minutes -drive of the village, -either way -you wanna go, or twenty, -right into a good village.

-And this all fell down -like this and gone.

-Good land, good orchard, -a beautiful orchard.

-Good spring right out there.

And they'll tell about it.

-why this country's -growin better.

Yup.

-If they have three -or four more years, -there wont be nothin.

-And theres only somebody -that can stomach it.

-Thats all.

-And nice land.

Look at it.

-You aint seen it all.

Thats -the trouble.

You ain't got out here and looked around but its a shame, -Im tellin ya.

-The people that built this, -and then look at it today.

What would they say if they come back here?

I'd like to know.

Them old fellas that built this house, cleared this land up and planted the orchard and done things, I'd like to know what they'd say -when they come back here -today, if they could.

-If theyll still let it fall -right -down, good.

-Look at that board there.

-Window casing.

Pine.

-Not a knot in it.

-Not a knot!

And they'll say AH -we got this good stuff -today.

B---.

-Sick.

-I'm sick of livin.

-Look at these here, -good God almighty.

-The house -just squished right down, -didnt it?

-B---.

-And this one too.

- 'bout thirty-five years ago, -I lived right in that house, -when I was loggin for Leo, -right there.

-Right there.

- 'twas a pretty good warm, -comfortable house too.

-!And Leo lived right over here.

-And Leo -lived in it after he sold out -this place on this side.

-He kept that -for a long time afterward.

-Just thirty-five years ago, -this was all standin -in good shape.

Farmin it.

-Kep a hundred head of cattle -in here.

-Yup.

Big business.

-State of Vermont -going good shape.

-Good shape.

Beautiful shape.

-Few more summer people move -in, wont -have nothin.

-Nothin'.

One woman's got it.

Her man's dead, and she's up here.

I ain't runnin' the woman down none.

-Why don't she do -something with it.

Why dont she put some help in there and do somethin with it?

Rig it up, and keep -some cattle and stuff.

-Build 'er a barn.

-Do somethin.

-Work somebody, -if shes gonna have it.

-Make some business.

- "Its up -in Brownsville.

Thats what -theyll say.

Now look at it.

-All brush and everything.

-Right here in the village.

-Fifteen minutes -from Stowe village.

-Aint -much left of this, Mister.

-The shed parts been carted -most all off.

-Yep yep yep yep yep.

Gone boys.

-Its gone, over the hump.

-I'd like to see the man -right today -step right back here -that hewed these timbers out.

-See what hed say 'bout it.

-He'd wanna know what ailed -this country.

-Whatll that woman do with -all this land alone up here?

-She dont want nobody on it, -nor no hunting, -nor no nothin.

-!Whatll it ever amount to her?

-The government ought -to take it away from her.

-Put somebody on -these places up 'round here.

-Build 'em some houses.

-See if they got a livin.

You wouldnt get lumber enough -out of it now -unless you dug -awful hard -to amount to a---.

-Nobody'd use it.

A carpenter wouldn't -!unless 'twas somebody like me.

-!They wouldnt use that timber.

-Theyd want some veneer.

-Lets go!

-Come on!

-I'm sick of Brownsville.

-Gee, Chub.

-Gee, Chub.

-Gee, Chub.

-Gee!

Gee, Chub.

-There somethin - Theres -somethin with this outfit -thats critically wrong.

-These people -that grab up land.

But two, three of 'em -we know in the countrys -got more 'n -thousands of acres, -and workin out for a livin -and the land -humped up somewhere -!in the corner, and nobody -they -wont let nobody use it, -and they wont let nobody -on it, and they wont -sell a piece of it.

-It looks to me -as if the government -ought to do somethin - 'bout it.

-Thats what I should think.

-Take it over -and put somebody on it, -and not let somebody else -have it to set in a house and look out over the view of the country off -on the mountains.

-Seventy-five or a -hundred acres.

Or a thousand.

-I dont believe in that.

-I'm tellin you, I dont.

-If they wanna go sightseein, -they better go to Switzerland, -get on a mountain -and get up higher.

-This land was put here for us -to get a livin with.

-Thats what it was here for.

-We werent supposed to buy -!everything from a supermarket.

-!We were supposed to raise some -of it and live off the land.

-And thats what I think we -!ought to do more 'n were doin -All of us.

Wish I hadn't -let that fire g down.

-Thats all there is to it, -schoolmarm.

A few years ago and I wouldnt -have to be drove.

-And I dont want -no fancy stuff.

-I'd rather be right here -and have somebody around.

-It would be -keep the camp -!clean and keep things fixed up -If you wanna go to a horse -pull or go to a picture -and have a car here -so you could go with it.

-Somebody -!that would kinda enjoy things.

-You cant go and live -with your folks today, 'cause -you dont live right.

-I couldnt.

go and live -with any of my folks - 'cause I dont keep clean -enough and fancy enough.

-Id go all wiskers -and all dirt.

-And what I mean, I aint -!filthy.

I dont mean that.

But -I cant live the way they do.

-If I want to go in the house -and fix a bridle, I'm going -in.

Fix it if I want to -!When it's cold weather outside -and take a hot water -and make it on the floor, -I want to do it.

-!I don't want somebody tell me, -you're hurting my room.

That kind of not on.

I wouldn't.

-Thats all.

-I got some good kids.

They're alright.

Just as good -as anybodys kids.

-But I dont -wanna lean on their shoulder, -and I aint goin to.

If I can't live by myself -and get by myself, why, Ill -!go somewhere else, thats all.

-Ill find a place somewhere -that I can get by.

-Youre gonna stay -just as long as you can, -and then when you pass on, -you know what -people gonna say.

-Theyll just say, "Well, -Chet werent a bad fella -He lived up there -in that old shack, he werent a bad fella.

Thats -what theyll say about us all -when were dead.

-Every one of us.

-When were -alive, we aint nothin.

-Did ya -bring any liquor with ya?

-Its a hard life.

-My mother told me thered -be days like this, and -I didnt believe 'er.

-Well, -you're doin better, Tom.

-You can wait for me -once.

Easy.

-Easy.

-Well, -if we get out of wood again, -theres -a pile of logs right there.

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