ANTIQUE WHITE PINE

Eastern White Pine was the undisputed King of the northeastern woods. It is said to have reached heights of 240 feet and diameters of 5 to 8 feet prior to European colonization. These trees were much larger than anything left standing in Europe. Early settlers in New England marveled at their size. These huge trees  became a gold mine for New England almost overnight.

George Weymouth, a Captain in the British Royal Navy, recognized the value of these tall, straight pines. He knew they would make perfect ship masts for the Crown. England was desperate for a source of good mast wood for her ships. Her own lands had been almost entirely deforested. The combination of its light weight and strength made the newly discovered Eastern White Pine the perfect choice. Thus, the first English lumber mill was built and put into service in York, Maine in the year 1623.