Big Sam [Paperback]

Sam Churchill (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 083230476X | ISBN-13: 978-0832304767 | Publication Date: November 1989 | Edition: 2

True story of life in a logging camp in the early part of 1900s. Sam Churchill born in 1911, remembered it well and created a landmark account of the daily life at Western Cooperage Camp, near Astoria, Oregon. He loved the woods, and was able to describe his childhood pleasures while teaching history of steam-whistle logging when they were taking out the "Big Ones". Full of humor and pathos.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sam Churchill, born in 1911, lived in the logging camp until he and his mother moved to Seaside, Oregon for him to attend school. Graduated from Seaside High School in l930, went to Santa Ana Junior College, then University of Oregon. Served in the Navy in World War 11 as a chief petty officer. Joined the staff of the Yakima Washington daily newspapers in l951, and retired in 1974. His column, Sam's Valley was well received. He wrote three books, BIG SAM, DON'T CALL ME MA and SAY IT AGAIN SAM. He died in 1991.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Binford & Mort Pubs; 2 edition (November 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 083230476X
• ISBN-13: 978-0832304767
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,731,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True glimpse into the logging camp days of big timber in the West., September 9, 2009

By 

Dorothy L. Churchill (Rainier, Or. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Big Sam (Paperback)

Big Sam, by Sam Churchill is like living out in the woods in Oregon, where every thing is primitive as far as living conditions are concerned, but being close to nature is spiritual.
Big Sam was a logger in Maine until his brother came West and convinced him he should come out where there were enough trees to last forever. He tried it, liked it and went back to Boston to talk his girl into making the change. Caroline Snow became Caroline Churchill, traded in her proper Bostonian life for a life in a shack along a railroad track miles away from everything except loggers and trees. Sam Churchill, their son, is the author of this book, sharing his adventures of growing up in the logging camp. Readers who know about that life have proclaimed it TRUE! Sam Churchill, the author loved it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There Will Never Be Another Big Sam!, January 5, 2001

By 

Howard L. Dixon (Hopewell, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Big Sam (Paperback)

There's probably only a handful of books available that talk about early logging in the Pacific Northwest. This is one of them. Sam Churchill is referring to his dad, Big Sam, in the title. The area is inland a short distance from Astoria in Northwest Oregon. It talks about the reality of opening that area to logging and then follows the transition of methods and means into more modern times. There's a nice number of photos with great material. Unfortunately there's two or three to a page and sometimes it's hard to really enjoy the full composition.

In addition to the stories about how logging was done in those times there's a number of great family stories that are only found in books such as these. By the time you finish you'll feel the dampness in the air as you drive through the back country of the Coast Slope.