Historic Sawmill Pictures

[Ben Ruset]

All:

I was browsing around on the Library of Congress site and they have a section devoted to Images of America from the Great Depression to WW2. In there are many, many pictures of sawmills similar to those that were in the Pines. Clicking on the image brings you to the page in the LOC where you can see the image metadata.

Heard County, GA: The interesting thing here is that it appears to be driven by some sort of tractor motor, and the blades are belt driven, much like how I suppose the one near Mary Ann forge was run.

 

[Ben Ruset]

Jefferson, TX. Note the giant pile of sawdust. Even 50-100 years later, you can still see mounds at Pine Barrens sawmill sites where sawdust has sat. Here they're making shingles, which would have been common in the Pines as well.



"Pine Area, NJ" - Is this Double Trouble?

 

[Ben Ruset]

Greene County, GA:

 

[kayakmac]

Nice to see the shingle operation. Similar to Batsto's. Horizontal blade, blocked wood , and shinicock. I don't see a bailer for the doghair (down below the shingle station in Batsto). Wonder what wood they used in Texas? We used white cedar, (of course). I've heard of using mined wood and a diamond saw to make long lasting shingles for some roofs in Philly.

 

[bobpbx]

Very cool Ben. I think that Pines one is either Double Trouble like you say, or Tuckerton or Forked River. I have seen that photo before.

The long shaft in the Georgia photo is exactly like the one Guy, Chris, and I found at Warren Grove.

PS: In post number 2, first photo. Look at that supervisor with the coat on looking over their shoulders, making sure they do it right. I hate when people do that, he must have been a real pain in the butt to work for....."do it right Harley....do it right now!".

 

[woodjin]

Thanks for posting these Ben,
Similar to MaryAnn and similar to the one I showed to guy out near fort dix I suspect (the later was the most intact mill I've seen in the pines).

Jeff

 

[Ben Ruset]

Have I seen the one by Dix?

 

[leahey]

I don't think that is Double Trouble. Unless the sawmill was significantly different prior to the rebuild.

 

[bobpbx]

Here is the back of Double Trouble Mill, looks like last century.

http://losttownsvideo.billmecca.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/double-trouble-sawmill.jpg

 

[MarkBNJ]

I love browsing around in the LOC archive. You find some really interesting images. Great pics, Ben.

 

[Teegate]

Have I seen the one by Dix?

I don't think so. I went there with Jeff one time.

Guy

 

[Teegate]

The long shaft in the Georgia photo is exactly like the one Guy, Chris, and I found at Warren Grove.

http://teegate.njpinebarrens.com/03142009/IMG_1.JPG

http://teegate.njpinebarrens.com/03142009/IMG_3.JPG

Guy

 

[Ben Ruset]

Amazing how that's managed to stay there for so long without anybody taking it for scrap.

 

[woodjin]

Amazing how that's managed to stay there for so long without anybody taking it for scrap.

that is amazing, but from what I understand, it is in an area few travel.

 

[oji]

I am not aware of an intact sawmill in the Ft. Dix area. Could I get the location of it? I am very interested in seeing it.

 

[Teegate]

I am not aware of an intact sawmill in the Ft. Dix area. Could I get the location of it? I am very interested in seeing it.

It is not intact. It is the only one we have found that still had portions of the wooden structure left. Plus, there are quite a few odd concrete pieces there that we have never viewed before. Jeff's description as the "most intact" is accurate.

Guy

 

[Hewey]

that is amazing, but from what I understand, it is in an area few travel.

you would most likley have to get in thier and section it up with a torch just to move it. Not a real good spot to try that.

Chris

 

[oji]

It is not intact. It is the only one we have found that still had portions of the wooden structure left. Plus, there are quite a few odd concrete pieces there that we have never viewed before. Jeff's description as the "most intact" is accurate.

Guy

Is it on the Browns Mills side of the base?

 

[Teegate]

The sawmill was owned by Emmor W. Mick in this 1942 survey.

Guy

 

[Ben Ruset]

That was a pretty substantial mill. I have a feeling that many of them were not built so well.