Circular Sawmill aka The Old Sawmill aka Stony Creek Sawmill

The circular saw was used to cut lumber for use in construction. Logs were set on a carriage frame on a track and fed into the spinning saw. After 1850, circular sawmills were common in Michigan and other lumbering communities across America. According to the original 1933 guidebook, this mill was operated by the water of Stony Creek in Monroe, Michigan, powered by a waterwheel, all the while sitting near the Loranger Gristmill. It seems, however, that Mr. Ford converted it to a steam engine once rebuilt in Greenfield Village.
The equipment on the inside of this building is original to the mid-19th century, from what I understand. Unfortunately, at this time I have no photos of the machinery or of the interior at all.The exterior, according to the Benson Ford Research Center, is a replica of the original structure of the 1850's, built in the Village in 1928. Looks like someone didn't proof-read the placard, however, that sits in front of the building, which says this is a 1938 replica of sawmills from that era.
I have to believe the Benson Ford, as the sketches in the early guidebooks (pre-1938) show this building.
Another very fine example of mid-19th century everyday life.



.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sarah Jordan Boarding House

Image
This house, built in 1870, originally stood near the laboratory where Thomas Edison and his men toiled in Menlo Park, New Jersey. Widowed in 1877, "Aunt Sally," as Sarah was known, lived in Newark, and was sent for in 1878 by her distant relative, Thomas Edison, to run a place for his workers to eat and sleep. With little employment opportunities for women, Mrs. Jordan accepted the offer and opened the home as a boarding house that same year. Several of Edison's single employees lived here and would sleep two to three to a bed in the six rooms on the second floor. In fact, at the height of the laboratory's activities in 1880, sixteen boarders called this structure 'home.' Edison's house, a good-sized residence, was down the road a short ways. Daily, the 'Wizard of Menlo Park' passed the Jordan Boarding House to and from his laboratory, walking atop the wood-plank walk, wearing a skull cap or a farmer's wide-brimmed straw hat, both hands
Read more

Grimm Jewelry Store

Image
When Englebert Grimm died in 1931, he bequeathed the contents of his store to his good friend Henry Ford, and Grimm's surviving daughter honored that request in 1932. Originally built in 1878 (or possibly 1885 - I have two different sources from the Village) at 2033 Michigan Avenue, Ford obtained the building from the City of Detroit for a $195 salvage fee and, in 1940, had it re-erected inside Greenfield Village. This was the shop where young Henry would stop to visit the owner and sometimes purchase tools or parts to repair watches. Grimm was a German immigrant who, with his family, lived on in the second floor of this building, creating a modest modern home for its time. He offered mass-produced inexpensive clocks, watches, and jewelry to the local Detroit area residents. It was specialty stores such as this that caused the demise of the general store. It is set now as it was in the late 1880's. I have been told that many of the watches inside are those that Henry Ford actu
Read more

Maps Through Time: The Ever-changing Lay Out of Greenfield Village

Image
From its inception over 80 years ago through today, Greenfield Village has gone through numerous layouts, which is no easy task considering that it is actual buildings - historic buildings - that are being moved. I'm sure with each change there were complaints. Well, of course, unless it was Mr. Ford's idea. No one disagreed with the Big Guy. But, even with the last major restructuring in 2003 their were disgruntled customers. My opinion is as long as it's kept historically accurate, I don't mind. What I thought I'd do here was to show, through original six maps from six different decades, the ever-growing and ever-changing history of Greenfield Village. To see the graphics larger, please click onto the photo. Our first map takes us back to October 29, 1929 - that very first rainy day that Henry Ford opened up his Greenfield Village to special guests. Here was Mr. Ford's original vision: Twelve years later, in 1941, one can see just how much the Village grew:
Read more