Spruce
Native Americans and early settlers found many uses for spruce. The roots of the young trees were used as cords, often to tie canoes together.
Early chewing gum was made from spruce resin, and non-alcoholic spruce beer was flavored with budding leaves.
Medicines were made from spruce bark and resins, while the soundboards of many beloved pianos and violins have been made from spruce.
In World War II, the strong but light wood of the spruce was used to make airplanes.