Take my hand, this one's gonna be awhile.
Feel free to criticize or correct, I'm not prideful enough for it to matter and some of this is surmise from collective readings and research.These mills do seem to date sporatically although the technology expressed of the stones does limit them to a given period.Just pre-turn of the twentieth and just after seems good in many cases.By then there were fuel powered things. Personally I think most of these are merely successors to older existing mills, just updated technology as water sources may have waned. (correcting of course for ones found in the middle of nowhere reasonable in the pines ) Ben's pics I think are real close to the mark. However not to debate, a "logging camp" is just that, not a mill.
From everything I've read current or prior, here's a logging camp. Envision an operation specifically design to set up, cut down everything made of wood standing upright, bring it somewhere else and move on to the next place.As far as the mills go, whether by man,water,animal or machine..the concept of a mostly single source driving everything seems to be consistent and magnificent if you think on it. Standing in the Batsto Mill is cool as all get out when it's under way. As far as the stones. They are expendable as guessed. the utensils and even the wood the buildings around them were made from had much more value. It's no wonder they were left.
I have before me Charles Boyer's - "Old Mills of Camden County". Been trying to get it for a bit. Coupled with some time spent with a fellow of the
Batsto area my uncle turned me on to I might actually accomplish something.
One can buy copies of the book through the Camden County Historical Society. It seems it was published for or by the Society in 1962. I am not a cheapskate but even with my member discount I couldn't justify the purchase. I wanted to see an original copy. I merely had it transferred from the Haddon Twp high school library to the Waterford library where I took it on loan. This one's the real deal. I am almost afraid to turn the pages. The map enclosed is very fragile as well. When I compare and overlay the map per-se on others that I poured over extensively from RMICKLE'S thread, Maps showing Mills, furnaces... 10/3/05, it goes together well considering the inconsistency of maps of old.
A side note, check out the Camden County Historical Society site for Old Mills, Old Waterways, and Old Cemetaries of Camden County. As the hinterlands of Camden County reached the pines, there is valuable stuff to be found.
For instance, in the book when reading the chapter on Burnt Mill, there is a reference to Ephraim Cline's Tavern and a road from the Blue Anchor branch in Winslow passing over a bridge not far from the Matchestacatuxen branch. Given a little liberty on the map, Maybe a help with Guy's "EPHRAIM'S BRIDGE" 11/2/05. Sorry to stray.
Now, this book of course makes reference to "ancient mills" and their successors. The goods on the mills work just the same. REDNECKF350's Albertson's sawmill is listed and just about dead on the map with his coords. Iron Mill and it's ownership (Richard's, then later Landros & Burns )seem to predate the stones. Burnt Mill, Bate's Mill, and Inskeeps Mill land in the pines. The one on my Grandfather's land is sadly not listed although it is not very far from the Iron Mill or Albertson's Mill. These mills were more than functional, they were life's blood to communities. There are strict and specific reference of "TO BE LEFT" and "TO BE LETT" deeds spanning as much as 40 years regarding use of the mill, it's utensils, and it's assets. This is how My Grandfather's land was passed on. In this book are listings of wages, prices,adds for help, and even songs o' the mills. Mind you , many of the references are to the older mills but the places indicate that these stones, not to repeat, almost just seem to land on some existing sites. Some not far from their water driven cousins. A lot of that seemed to due to the geography of accessible routes of transfer of the product.
I shall be scanning and copying the parts of the book I need and taking pics of it's map. I now intend to find others referring to the stones listed in this thread ( I hope ). Oh ramblings. Let me stop.
Curse you Guy for initiating such an interesting thread.
G.
