Amador County – The 2011 Amador County Fair, July 28-31, will once again feature live operation of the only Steam Powered Saw Mill on Public California Fairgrounds, with daily demonstrations that will be expanded this year.
Bill Braun, President of the Amador County Sawmill Association, said the “already dramatic – and completely authentic – 19th century saw mill will boast a recently added belt-driven sawdust removal conveyor powered by a second steam engine.”
“The restored boiler and powerful single cylinder Corliss Steam engine with at 7-foot flywheel will once again turn giant redwood logs into useful boards as they pass through the 48-inch circular blade.”
Braun said: “Fulfilling our mission to restore and demonstrate historic equipment is fun, but more important is our increased ability to educate young people about their American heritage.”
He said by “recreating a live 19th century saw mill, we provide a glimpse into Amador County history and one of the three traditional industries, Logging, Mining and Agriculture.”
Visitors are welcome to view the demonstration and talk to the volunteers who build and operate the exhibit, and they can “learn how to fire up the Dutton boiler, previously deployed on a pile driving barge in San Francisco Bay or how to muscle huge logs onto the carriage that carries them through the saw blade.”
The “Sawyer” then “directs the operation by hand motions and tells the ‘Setters’ the thickness he wants to cut. Take a look in the Engine Room and be hypnotized by the rhythmic machinery that, huffing and puffing, turns steam into 60 horsepower torque.”
Braun said “if nothing else,” people can “enjoy watching a totally unique demonstration that you won’t see very often.”
The historic Amador Sawmill is one of the last operational steam powered sawmills in California. The living history museum’s mission is Preservation and Education. ACSA is a non-profit organization supplying rough-cut lumber and timbers for projects that require time period saw marks for their restorations.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
