Steam powered sawmill

[mike dee]

Time for an upgrade? Great way to use up some of that slab wood!

Itasca Sawmill - YouTube

[mike dee]

Part 2
Itasca Sawmill Part 2 - YouTube

[barbender]

 That sawmill was owned by J. Neils, who had milling operations in northern MN. As the native old growth pine played out in Minnesota, you couldn't go west without running into prairie so Neils started buying up timberland out in Montana. He started a mill out in northwest Montana in the town of Libby. Eventually his mill in Cass Lake, MN shut down because of a lack of timber. My Grandpa said about half the town of Cass Lake (my Grandpa's hometown) packed up and left with J. Neils for Montana when he left, including some of our family. 

 J. Neils became an innovator in forest management on his timberlands in Montana. Being he had suffered the consequences of running out of timber himself, he developed methods of thinning and rotational harvests to sustainably provide raw material for the mills. 

 Neils was also highly regarded for his good treatment of employees and civic mindedness. An admirable man.

 

[ladylake]

Barbender 

  Do you go to the Itaca show. I'm going to try and make it next year, looks interesting.  Steve

[barbender]

 I haven't been to it yet. But it looks like a good one. I've been out to Rollag several times, and it is so big it can be a little bit much. The Itasca show might be just right😊