"MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN"
THE circ. 1920'S PORT HURON SAWMILL BEING POWERED BY A 1917 MODEL 19-65 PORT HURON STEAM ENGINE
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"MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN" THE circ. 1920'S PORT HURON SAWMILL BEING POWERED BY A 1917 MODEL 19-65 PORT HURON STEAM ENGINE
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"THE BUSINESS END"
"WATCH OUT FOR FLYING CHIPS"
RUNNING THE SAW CARRIAGE
The Logging Industry has
always been a large part of Michigan history, but logging and
milling were also an important part of St.Clair County's agricultural
heritage during the late 19th century and to a lesser degree in the 20th
century.
The sawmill is operated daily for the public to see "how
it was done" during the "Old Fashion Harvest Days"
It is also run as
a means of generating funds for the museum's projects by doing what it
was meant for; making boards.
The operation of the mill requires
at least 4 or 5 men. The lead operator was called a "Sawyer". He was the
boss of the crew. He controls the thickness of boards cut and the speed
that they are fed through the blade by the carriage. The safe cutting of
logs was held by his skills and decisions.
The mill is powered by
a long flat belt running from the steam engine's pulley to the pulley of
the mill's drive.