McLean Mill historical site

This steam-powered sawmill shut down in the 1960s but in the 1990 locals began restoring it to fully working condition as an historical site.

No hidden diesel engines or electric motors or safety screens.

Using steam, four or five “workers” pulled a log from the mill pond and cut it into boards in a demonstration. In the 1960s there would have been 27 workers and much larger logs, and faster operation. But this looked dangerous enough, and in fact the man that oriented the log for cutting almost fell when the platform he was standing on suddenly moved. This was a great demonstration but sadly I don’t think you will see anything comparable in the lawsuit-happy US.

The blacksmiths are Larry and Chuck, and they spent most of the day at it. Chuck is a retired insurance claims agent from Delaware. He and Malcolm (not shown), a retired science teacher also from Delaware, like to geocache. We spied them geocaching even in a Vancouver WalMart parking lot, of all things.

The gentleman meditating is on his own caravan.