Los Alamitos in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

This Big Saw

Photographed by Michael Kindig, June 9, 2023

1. This Big Saw Marker

Inscription. 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 Libby, Montana. For 82 years it was used to cut lumber that was loaded on to trains and shipped into the growing United States housing market. The iron giant was finally retired in 1982 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.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 33° 48.385′ N, 118° 4.318′ W. Marker is in Los Alamitos, California, in Orange County. It is at the intersection of Los Alamitos Boulevard and Catalina

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Street, on the right when traveling south on Los Alamitos Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10742 Los Alamitos Boulevard, Los Alamitos CA 90720, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Los Alamitos Sugar Company and Town's Founding (approx. ¼ mile away); St. Isidore Historical Plaza (approx. ¼ mile away); The Freedom Tree (approx. 2.2 miles away); Challenger Crew (approx. 2.2 miles away); Cypress Police Memorial (approx. 2.3 miles away); Ranchos Los Alamitos - Los Cerritos - Los Coyotes (approx. 2.3 miles away); Tibor Rubin (approx. 2.6 miles away); “Big Red Cars” (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Alamitos.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Carson Street Landscaping (was approx. 1.7 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 9, 2022

2. This Big Saw Marker

This Big Saw image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, June 9, 2013

3. This Big Saw

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 9, 2022

4. This Big Saw Marker

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 9, 2022

5. This Big Saw Marker

Ganahl Lumber Company Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, June 9, 2013

6. Ganahl Lumber Company Marker

Ganahl Lumber Company
Completed May 17, 1999
Contractor: Matt Construction
Architect: C.W. DuBourdieu Jr, AIA, NCARB

Tree Section Display image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, June 9, 2013

7. Tree Section Display

Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2013, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,233 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on June 25, 2013, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. Photos: 1. submitted on June 10, 2013, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 2. submitted on April 10, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 3. submitted on June 10, 2013, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 4, 5. submitted on April 10, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 6, 7. submitted on June 10, 2013, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.