The Sawmill

The Sawmill. . For their colony the Waldensians purchased 10,000 acres of land on credit. As part of the purchase agreement, the Morganton Land and Development Company included a sawmill for the colony's use to make lumber for their homes and to sell surplus lumber for profit and thus pay for the land. Colonists held the land in common, sharing equally in debt and profit., Unfortunately, the dream of surplus lumber never materialized. The sawmill was new to the colonists andnone of them knew how to operate it, resulting in many inefficiencies and breakdowns. For them making lumber was laborious and painfully slow. Some learned to operate the sawmill better than others, leading to arguments and occasional fist fights about the division of labor at the mill. Those who got more turns at operating the saw were accused of "taking the easy jobs for themselves.", Eventually, the corporation idea was abandoned, and the land company took back the property. Each Waldensian family then purchased their own land and turned to farming for their families needs and income., The sawmill was powered by a single-cylinder hit and miss engine. The one here on exhibit is the original. The sawmill is not the original but it was built the same year as the engine. In 1993, just in time for the 100 year celebration of the town of Valdese, Jim Jacumin, whose grandfather was one of the original settlers, and his long time partner Pat Ross got the old engine running again after nearly 70 years of sitting idle., The Jacumin and Barus families remained active in the sawmilling business for over 100 years.