Leonard Miller Steam Powered Sawmill
THE SAW MILL
How does a sawmill work? Through the powering of a saw blade, round logs are turned into rectangular shaped lumber. The basic principle has not changed in over one hundred years.
The sawmill has played a prominent role in Oregon's economy since the days of initial settlement in the 1800's. In 1827, the first sawmill built in the Pacific Northwest operated on human muscle power. Using a whip saw - a long flat saw with handles at both ends - lumber was cut from logs by two men working as a team. The work was laborious.
But the advent of mechanical power was at hand. In 1832, the first sawmill was built at Oregon City Falls. Constructed for a Dr. John McLaughlin, the chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, Columbia Department used water power to operate. By 1870, there were 173 sawmills in Oregon of which 138 were water powered. The other 35 mills were powered by steam introduced in the 1850's.
Steam power, an important addition, allowed mills to be located in lumber abundant areas where the water resource was not of sufficient flow to drive a water wheel however adequate to supply steam boilers. Many communities would boast of more than one sawmill. By the mid 1940's, lumber production peaked with 1573 sawmills turning out an impressive seven billion of lumber annually.
Although today operating at lower production levels, sawmilling remain an important economic activity in Oregon.
ANTIQUE POWERLAND MUSEUM SAWMILL
This “American No. 1” sawmill is typical of the small, often portable, sawmills that operated throughout the Northwest circa 1900 – 1930. A wood fired 1906 locomotive boiler powers five steam engines that drive mill machinery. This fully operational museum display is used to produce lumber for various on-site building projects.
We have strived to provide the identical sawmill machinery you would find in a sawmill for that time period. The open flat belt drive system is as authentic as we can make it right down to the hand poured Babbitt bearings that the turning wheels and shafts ride on. The steam engines are of the same period as well.
The original sawmill was constructed from two separate sawmills, one donated by the Joe Richardson family of Gervais, Oregon and the other donated by the Daniel Jensen family of Harrisburg, Oregon. In 1970, Leonard Miller with helpers Jeff Richardson, Harvey Hilands, Julian Hutchens and Percy Dezotell built the first steam powered sawmill here. That sawmill building stood for thirty years.
The sawmill structure that you are in today was constructed by several volunteers in the 1999-2000 period. Under the direction of current Head Sawyer at that time, Vern Yeager, the old mill machinery was dismantled, moved and re-assembled in time for the 2003 Steam-Up. All of the mill's machinery is operated and maintained by a group of dedicated sawmill volunteers.
The present mill is dedicated to the memory of its namesake, Leonard Miller.
For 2026. The Sawmill will be operation for the following event dates:
April 18 ; FNRL High School Logging Skills Event
July 25 & 26 : 56th Annual The Great Oregon Steam-Up
August 1 & 2: 56th Annual The Great Oregon Steam-Up
August 14: OBS Ford Truck Show
August 22: Brooks truck Show