Early settlers in Michigan needed homes, barns, and shops. As farmers cleared the forests for more farm land, the trees provided a plentiful supply of wood. Sawmills were among the first mills established in towns and farming communities, and it was at these sawmills that the wood was cut into lumber to build the homes, barns, and shops.Sawmills were not only important to the setting in Greenfield Village, but they were also used extensively by architect Ed Cutler's crew to provide lumber for numerous construction and re-erecting projects.
The 1855 Tripp Sawmill, originally from Franklin Center (now Tipton), Michigan, near Tecumseh in Lenauwee County and built by J.D. Tripp, featured an up and down saw similar to the one Henry Ford operated in his youth. Powered by a steam engine on the bottom floor, the vertical blade flashes up and down while suspended between the two floors of the building, hence, the name "up and down" saw mill. The original machinery in this mill cuts lumber in the 19th century style, by emulating the same motion of cutting lumber by hand with a pit saw, which was invaluable for accurate restorations in the Village.
Much Michigan timber went through this mill when the Tripps owned and operated it from 1855 until 1916. It ran for four months out of the year with just three or four workers. During those few months, the workers cut all the lumber that the surrounding community needed. The mill was closed in 1916 when competition from the railroads made it easy to move lumber throughout the region from large scale logging operations.Henry Ford had it moved to Greenfield Village in 1932.
Please click HERE to see information on the Village's other up and down saw mill, the Spofford Mill)
.
3 comments:
I notice in the 2nd paragraph of the original post it says J.D. Tripp built the Tripp Saw Mill. My understanding was that his father, Rev. Henry Tripp built it. Could you clarify that information for me and others who are interested in this bit of history? Thank you. From a Tripp offspring in Washington state. J.D. Tripp is my great great grandfather. Marilyn Tripp Kyle.
It is a pleasure to "meet" a descendant of one who built a structure now located in Greenfield Village - what a fine tribute to your ancestors!
I got the information of the Tripp Sawmill from the 1968 "Guidebook of Greenfield Village." It states, on page 48, that it was built by J.D. Tripp in 1855.
The earlier guidebooks state the same. So, I checked the guidebooks from later periods and they seemed to have stopped listing the builder's name at that point - only the structure's name and the year built.
If you have information to the contrary, I would love to include it (with you as the source, of course). Also, I look for stories of a personal nature to bring these buildings to life (see what I wrote for Eagle Tavern for an example), so if you have any family history stories of J.D. or Henry that you would like to share, that would be great.
Thank you for your interest as well as a possible mix up.
Ken
PS By the way, if what you say is true, I can take your information, if you'd like, to the Village office so they can make the necessary corrections.
I went over the photos I have and noticed one that I took of a placard on the inside of the building - it states that the builder of the Tripp sawmill was your Henry Tripp.
If I am able to, I plan on going to the Benson Ford Research Center later this winter to see what more I can find on this.
Post a Comment