Mystic in Stonington in Southeastern Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Sawmill
Here at Mystic Seaport Museum, we produce our own lumber from logs. It is more economical and provides us with the correct moisture content and unusual sizes we need. White oak, yellow and white pine, spruce, fir, and hackmatack are all used in the restoration and maintenance for our ships. After sawyers saw the lumber, it is stacked and air dried for future use.
Museum staff assembled this sawmill from different manufacturers' parts. The components include the wheeled carriage and tracks, the blades and power plant, and the level concrete foundation. This machinery can accommodate a log up to 40 feet in length and 48 inches in diameter using the top saw.
Two operators are required to run the sawmill. The sawyer controls the setting and speed of the carriage while the helper clears away the scrap and removes the sawed lumber as it is produced.
Blades
Bottom Blade: Diameter: 52", 48 teeth, 125 HP electric motor, 550 RPM
This is used for most jobs.
Top Blade: Diameter: 36", 34 teeth, 75 HP electric motor, 625 RPM
The top blade is used together with the bottom blade when the diameter of the log exceeds the
this page online
De-barking Blade: Diameter: 8", 3 HP electric motor
This small blade helps protect the larger blades by running in front and creating a groove which removes any damaging debris.
Erected by Mystic Seaport Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 41° 21.557′ N, 71° 57.905′ W. Marker is in Stonington in Southeastern Region, Connecticut. It is in Mystic. It is on Greenmanville Avenue (Connecticut Route 27) north of Isham Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 37 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic CT 06355, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Connecticut Shoreline, in Greater New London, in Mystic and the Eastern Shore, and in the Thames River Valley. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Shipsaw (here, next to this marker); Wolverine Semi-Diesel Engine (a few steps from this marker); Atlas (a few steps from this marker); Compound Steam Engine (within shouting distance of this marker); Susan Constant (within shouting distance of this marker); Mast of the Cutter Nebula (within shouting distance of this marker); Sandbagger Annie (within shouting distance of this marker); "Hobey's Dock" (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stonington.
Other markers no longer nearby. Lathrop D-90 Diesel Engine (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Wichmann Semi-Diesel Engine (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Compound Steam Engine (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Live Oak Log (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 137 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 29, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
