Near Sebastopol in Sonoma County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Sturgeon's Mill
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 28, 2017
1. Sturgeon's Mill Marker
In 1943 Wade sold the mill to his son Ralph and Ralph's friend James E. Henningsen. They operated the mill on a handshake until 1963. The mill then sat idle for 30 years. In 1964 James passed his interest in the mill to his son Harvey.
In 1993 former mill workers had a 30th year reunion at which seven preservationist, some of them former mill crew members, donated $100 each to begin the Sturgeon's Mill Restoration Project. Ironically Wade Sturgeon paid $700 for the mill in 1913.
In 2002 Ralph Sturgeon died and his share on the sawmill partnership was passed on to his son Bob and daughter Essie Sturgeon Doty. In 2003, after years of restoration work, Sturgeon's Mill was reborn with its first open house of the public and in 2007 was again powered by steam.
Sturgeon's Mill has retained most of its original records, hand tools, rolling stock and 1800's steam powered equipment from
this page online
This monument honors generations of local sawmill families and a skilled volunteer crew that restored and operates this working museum.
Erected 2011 by E. Clampus Vitus, Yerba Buena Chapter No. 1 in cooperation with the City of Mill Valley.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.
Location. 38° 24.765′ N, 122° 53.778′ W. Marker is near Sebastopol, California, in Sonoma County. Marker can be reached from Green Hill Road near Occidental Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2150 Green Hill Road, Sebastopol CA 95472, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Sturgeons Mill (here, next to this marker); Occidental Union Hotel (approx. 2.8 miles away); Freestone House (approx. 3 miles away); Votes For Women (approx. 3.9 miles away); Hogan Building (approx. 4.1 miles away); Running Fence (approx. 4.6 miles away); Watson School (approx. 4.6 miles away); First Power Commercial Sawmill (approx. 5.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sebastopol.
Also see . . .
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 28, 2017
2. Sturgeon's Mill Marker
1. Sturgeon's Mill. Sturgeon’s mill is a 105 year old steam powered sawmill. We are a working museum that is open 4 weekends a year to the general public. On these weekends historians, gear heads, steam heads and students of California history come to “Step back into History” at our museum. (Submitted on April 5, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
2. Sturgeon's Mill - Sebastopol, CA - YouTube. A real working lumber mill in Sonoma County - open 4 weekends per year. (Submitted on April 5, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 28, 2017
3. Sturgeon's Mill sawdust burner
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 28, 2017
4. Donkey engine
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 28, 2017
5. Stationary engine
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 28, 2017
6. Sturgeon's Mill
Public Domain, circa 1914
7. Sturgeon's Mill Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2017. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 515 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on April 5, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
