Interviewer
Brad K. Christensen
Files
Description
Lee Christensen discusses his career as a hay derrick—also known as beaver slides or stackers—builder, which started in the 1920s when he apprenticed with another builder before striking out on his own. Christensen talks about building beaver slides throughout Montana, particularly in the Big Hole area, as well as in Idaho. He details how to construct a beaver slide, including where he found the timber, what size and type of timber used, how he hewed the logs, how he put everything together, and how much he charged per slide. Christensen discusses how a beaver slide is used to stack hay. He recalls one incident when one of the slides he made broke during the course of transporting it from one area to another. He also describes how the slides were moved from field to field using skids, and how typically the people who contracted him to build the slides typically owned big ranches and the slides provided a cheaper alternative to baling.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Hay derricks; Beaver slides; Stackers; Agriculture, Montana; Agricultural equipment; Harvesting equipment; Haying; Haying equipment; Big Hole, Montana; Ranching, Montana
Original Date
2-14-1988
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Settlers, Homesteaders, Ranchers, and Farmers Oral History Collection Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana-Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 189-001
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (90 min.): analog + 1 transcript (16 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
00:44:18 minutes
Local Filename
OH_189_001.mp3; OH_189_001.pdf
Citation
Christensen, Lee, "Lee Christensen Interview, February 14, 1988" (1988). Montana Settlers, Homesteaders, Ranchers and Farmers Oral History Collection. 25.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mtsettlersandhomsteaders_oralhistory/25