Behind the Building: The Sawmill

Join Historian and Curator of Mechanical Arts, Tom Kelleher, for a behind-the-scenes look at the Old Sturbridge Village water-powered sawmill. The Sawmill is based on the Nichols-Colby Sawmill of Bow, New Hampshire, which was destroyed in a 1938 hurricane. Rural sawmills were busiest during late winter and early spring, when waterpower was most abundant and the demands of farming were less pressing. Sawmill account books suggest that since it was so difficult and expensive to transport logs and lumber, mills, like this one, concentrated on custom production for local customers.

[@Charlesdward6491]

Love it. I was fortunate enough last time i visited OSV to get a video of the action myself.

[@marksammons4170]

A really clear explanation. I remember watching the dam and sawmill built when I worked there. Seeing it run for the first time was very exciting. It's so informative to see three different historic water-power technologies at the three mills that share the millpond.

[@Xlovinyou22x]

Me and my class went to old Sturbridge village 3 weeks ago on June 9 it was fun I liked the horse ride