Laguna Beach in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
This Big Saw
Photographed By Adam Margolis
1. This Big Saw Marker
This nine-foot band saw is among the largest log saws ever used in the sawmill industry. It weighs over 38,000 pounds and has a blade that stretches over 56 feet in length. This saw was used to cut Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine logs up to ten feet in diameter and fifty-six feet in length. The lumber from just one of these giant logs would be enough to build two houses of about 1,500 square feet. The machine was manufactured by the Filer & Stowell Company in 1900 and put into service by the Champion Lumber Company in Martel, California. For 70 years it was used to cut lumber that was loaded on to trucks and trains and shipped into the growing California housing market. The iron giant was finally retired in 1992 when the mill was rebuilt to cut smaller logs. Despite the age of the machine, it is in sound working condition. With a little grease it could go back to work any time, but our intention is to keep it on display here as a monument to the pioneers of the lumber industry.
Additional tablet:
Conley Ware and Peter J. French hand built this structural platform and re-assembled this "Iron Giant" in tribute to all the tradesmen that live and work in Laguna Beach, California
April, 2005
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce
this page online
Location. 33° 33.341′ N, 117° 46.458′ W. Marker is in Laguna Beach, California, in Orange County. Marker is on Laguna Canyon Road (California Route 133) north of Canyon Acres Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Laguna Beach CA 92651, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Irvine Bowl (approx. 0.7 miles away); White House Restaurant Building (approx. 1.1 miles away); (The Laguna Greeter) (approx. 1.1 miles away); Redwood Surfboard (approx. 1˝ miles away); Historic Moss Point (approx. 2.1 miles away); Mixocetus Baleen Whale (approx. 3.8 miles away); Plaza de La Paz (approx. 3.8 miles away); Crystal Cove Historic District (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laguna Beach.
Photographed By Adam Margolis
2. An additional 2005 dedicatory tablet
Conley Ware and Peter J. French hand built this structural platform and re-assembled this “iron giant” in tribute to all the tradesmen that live and work in Laguna Beach, California
April, 2005
April, 2005
Photographed By Adam Margolis
3. This Big Saw and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 128 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 8, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
