Oakland library Aug. 15 talk will focus on town’s ax-making history

OAKLAND — Howard Hardy, a local historian and tool collector, will present a talk and display on the rise and fall of ax-making in Maine at the Oakland Public Library.
Hardy’s talk is 6 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 15 in the library, at 18 Church St.

The presentation will focus on how and why ax-making became so big in Oakland and around the state. Hardy will talk about the advantages Oakland had in the making of axes, as well as scythes since the scythe’s history parallels that of the ax. Howard will trace the progression and improvements in axes and examples will be on display, from primitive axes to more modern refinements.
He will also talk about the life of a salesman on the road and show some of the paperwork: invoices, letters and communications with salesmen. Hardy will discuss competition between manufacturers in Oakland (there were 18 in all), price-fixing and how companies competed and cooperated, buying steel, selling polls, trading employees and outsourcing handles (Lemuel Cotton and others).
The library will also display it’s collection of ax labels