HARRISON — Scribners Mills Preservation today announced its 2024 Open House Schedule. Guided tours of the original water-powered sawmill and restored Jesse Scribner homestead will be ongoing all afternoon. Live demonstrations will be conducted by blacksmith Ryan Adams of Bell Hill Forge as well.

“Our volunteers have been hard at work getting the mill ‘all spruced up’ for our first open house of the season,” says Martha Denison, board member at Scribners Mills Preservation. “It’s so much fun to see the old shingle and barrel-making machines humming again!”

“We have another busy schedule this year,” says Roy Clark, president of the non-profit organization. “We’ll be open the first & third Saturday every month right through September.” Scribners Mill sawed its first log in 1847 and continued to produce lumber, shingles, and barrels for apples until 1962.

A spring freshet in 1977 thrust tons of ice floes into the foundation of the mill, collapsing it into the river. A volunteer organization was formed soon after and the mill has been largely restored. The hydraulic turbines of yesteryear are still now, but the mill has been cleverly re-designed to operate powered by a tractor.

Directions: Scribners Mill is south of Bolsters Mills on the Crooked River. From Rte. 35 or 117, Follow the Maine State Directional signs located on Rte 35 at Carsley Road or on Rte 117 at Maple Ridge Road. The Jesse Mill Road which leads to the Mill from the Bolsters Mills Road in Otisfield, is no longer an option due to the closure of the bridge to auto traffic. A donation of $5 for each adult is requested. Check the website for more information: scribnersmill.org.