HARRISON — The Historic Scribner’s Saw Mill and Homestead will be open this coming Saturday, August 7 from 1 – 4 p.m. Come early enough to be able to enjoy the tour of the mill where you learn about the “Sash” saw used to cut lumber, how to put together a barrel, watch the shingle mill slicing off shingles in the long shed, the blacksmith operating the forge in the blacksmith shop, and tour the Homestead. The barn, chicken, & ice houses are also open for self-guided tours.
Special this year will be our celebration of Maine’s 200th birthday with a “Back to the Past” event on August 14. To help celebrate, the 3rd Maine will join us with an encampment. Those with antique vehicles, antique power equipment, Harrison’s antique pumper, many types of exhibitors, and a breakfast and lunch food booth provided by the Masons of the Crooked River Lodge in Bolsters Mills will be joining us.
Scribner’s Mill Preservation will be following the CDC guidelines as they change. We ask those who have not been vaccinated to follow suit and wear a mask.
Scribner’s Mill is found south of Bolsters Mills on Jesse Mill Road. Crossing over the Crooked River Bridge into the Town of Harrison, the mill is on the left. From Routes 35 or 117, follow the Maine State Directional signs found at Carsley or Maple Ridge Roads respectively. For those following their GPS from Rte. 121, continue on Bolsters Mills Rd. to Jesse Mill Rd. instead of turning onto the Tamworth Rd.
A $5 donation for each adult is requested. Check our website: scribnersmill.org for more information about the mill.
Historic Note: From Dr. Horace A. Barrows diary; “Fryday 30 October 1846, Bro. Worthy and Wm. Bucknell, wide awake on the subject of housing a new Saw mill located on Carsley’s Falls in the course of 1847.” That winter the blacksmith shop was built to keep sharp the drills to cut the granite on the east side of the Crooked River and to house the men who harvested the granite for the dam, the foundation of the mill and tail race. That year Dr. Barrows chronicles the moving of the “James Edwards House from Otisfield to the mill site to house the crew that will be on hand to build the mill, the construction of the mill, the gathering of the machinery to make shingles, clapboards, and lath. One year later Dr. Barrows enters into his diary; “Fryday 15 October 1847, Bro. Worthy has been up this evening and has informed us that our new Saw Mill has commenced its specific operations this day by sawing a yellow birch for Headstock.” Dr. Barrows’ diaries are found in the Maine Historical Societies Archives in Portland.
