We’re pleased to welcome back local author Tommy Carbone for his fascinating tale, “David Stone Libbey – Penobscot Lumberman, River Driver, Civil War Soldier and Writer.”
With his engaging style, Tommy’s presentation is designed to entertain with photos and woods’ ballads, while providing the heritage of this remarkable Maine pioneer, his lumbering adventures (many life-threatening), his writing as a naturalist, and his enduring legacy.
For many years, David wrote insightful articles for Forest and Stream and the Maine papers, including pieces on the Moosehead Lake region. In 1880 the editor of Forest And Stream wrote about David: “Penobscot knows the Maine country as well as any man living, and what he may write will be sure to be intelligent and authentic.”
Libbey lived most of his life in Howland and Newport, Maine and wrote under the penname, “Penobscot” for his love of the river and the woods of that county. He was a famous Penobscot river driver, head bateau man, and lumbered for ship’s knees from the Maine woods to the Adirondacks. Maine Historian Fannie Hardy Eckstorm wrote of Libbey: “He was one of Maine’s thoroughbred woodsman and waterman. As well as a a machinist, carpenter, miner, timber-molder, farmer, clerk, foundry-man, Civil War soldier, naturalist and writer.” David led an adventurous life and had more lives than a bobcat.
If you missed this presentation last year, don’t make that mistake again – Libbey’s life was fascinating and Tommy will bring you back in time with photos and stories from that period of Moosehead’s history.