When the first sawmills were established, they were usually small water powered facilities located near the source of timber. Later, larger circular sawmills were developed in the lower reaches of a river, with the logs floated down to them by log drivers.  In the smaller, wilder stretches of a river, rafts couldn’t get through, so masses of individual logs were driven down the river like huge herds of cattle.

From The National Film Board of Canada, this lighthearted, animated short is based on the song “The Log Driver’s Waltz” by Wade Hemsworth. Kate and Anna McGarrigle sing along to the tale of a young girl who loves to dance and chooses to marry a log driver over his more well-to-do competitor. Driving logs down the river has made the young man the best dancing partner to be found.