Nine Mile Bridge: Three Years in the Maine Woods

by Helen Hamlin

Book Overview

In this critically acclaimed Maine classic, first published in 1945, Helen Hamlin writes of her adventures teaching school at a remote Maine lumber camp and then of living deep in the Maine wilderness... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 096716625X
• ISBN13: 9780967166254
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Islandport Press
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Nine Mile Bridge

Considering that this was Helen Hamlin's first book, she did an amazing job of telling about her experiences in the wilderness. She was a gritty woman who seemed eager to take on any adventure involving the wilderness. She talks about traveling outdoors when it was 50 below zero. She acquired a lot of skills and likely learned a lot from her game warden husband. But I get the impression she was quite capable of standing on her own two feet as she could hunt and skin deer, fish, cut wood, bake bread, snow shoe, manage sled dogs and keep herself entertained for weeks on end knitting and doing crossword puzzles. Her writing moves along quickly because she has so much to tell. She also wrote another book about Maine which I would also like to read. It's interesting that she and Curly divorced sometime after her book was published and he died in his forties. Toward the latter part of the book, I thought some of his comments to his wife were insulting and I wondered if something was brewing between them. Maybe she was just too independent for him. She did, however, find love a second time and went on to have 3 children with her new husband.

Nine Miles Bridge : Three Years in the Maine Woods

Helen Hamlin's shared experiences in the Maine woods brought me back to my childhood. I spent most of my youth in and around the Allagash and St. John Rivers and many summers in the Chamberlin waters; Churchill, Eagle Lake,etc. Helen's writing is authentic, amusing, and filled with typical Maine philosphy. Loved it!!

She sure made the "woods" come alive for me!!

I almost hate to share one of the best kept secrets regarding a piece of heaven here on Earth, that being the North Maine Woods. Luckily I have found this place! Many of my friends know that I have enjoyed this amazing spot so for Christmas this past year I received a first edition copy of Nine Mile Bridge. In it, Helen Hamlim writes such a wonderful narrative of her three years living in these woods. As a reader it was so good to be able to visualize what she wrote about as I have experienced, albeit in a VERY small way, some of it too. Her writing is folksy, campy, but most importantly genuine. What a gutsy woman she must have been! I know that my next trip into the "woods" will be even more profound having read this novel. READ IT TOO-- and don't be afraid to visit the "woods". I know you'll feel the same way I do about them-- a piece of heaven here on Earth.

Very Important Book for my own history...

This is a time capsule of life in the Northern Maine woods through the 1920's-30's and into the early 1940's. My grandparents (briefly mentioned in the book) were French Canadian lumber workers who lived and worked the woods in the operations based around Jackman, Maine. (The Jeans and the Veillieuxs, respectively, my grandfather and grandmothers family).A great read for people curious about the lives of those who worked in the lumber camps of Northern Maine in the early 20th Century. I've heard countless stories my late grandmother told of those days, and this book adds immensely to that rich experience.This is a part of American History that will never occur again, the way of life in such remote locations, the teamwork, effort and work ethic and fun ethic of these folks was astounding. A true Gem worth buying.

Compelling story of life in the wilderness by new authorl

Living in the 'wilderness' early in this century was a daily adventure. Much different from 'backpacking' as we know it. Folks like Helen Hamlin set up camp and lived and worked miles from any sizable town, with only a small number of neighbors, if any. Life was difficult and hard, but never dangerous, if you prepared properly. Ms. Hamlin is a first time author and, as such, is not to be compared with modern, well practiced authors of our time. Still, her story is fascinating reading of a life and times that is part of the wonderful fabric of our country. Highly recommended for those with a bent for real-life perspectives of a different America.