River driver remembers Maine’s last log drive 50 years later

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 1, 2026

North America’s last log drive ended on the Kennebec River in 1976, halted by environmental regulations and a legislative ban. It also marked the end of the historic Kennebec Log Driving Company (KLD). Founded in 1853 by 63 sawmill owners, the company was formed to coordinate wood transport, manage log-driving dams and minimize conflicts among river drivers. Dave Calder, 76, of Canaan, was one of the last KLD workers. “I started working on the log drives in June 1967 when I was 17 years old,” said Calder. “Because my dad was a river driver, I wanted to work on the river, too. Earning one dollar an hour for a 55-hour work week, I was bringing in pretty good money back then.”