The planer mill, first built in 1895 by the Crowell & Spencer Lumber Company, produced finished lumber and various moldings. The finished lumber was planed to remove the rough cut that the sawmill left giving the smooth lumber we are familiar with today. Specialized products including delicate moldings, beaded sheathing, and tongue-and-grove flooring were milled here.They also had various milling machines that produced the decorative trim used in homes. The purpose of the planer mill was to produce finished lumber and millwork out of rough dry lumber. The current mill seen today was built in 1910 and is the oldest building at the museum. The building is large and built of very heavy timbers providing strength in case of fire. By using large timbers, the building would not collapse unless the fire burned for a long time.
It was powered by the power plant that is next door. Burning wood waste from the planer mill helped to generate steam that powered the Corliss steam engine that powered a 120-foot shaft that extended under the planer mill.
Find out more about the Planer Mill in this video done by volunteers!
With 5,200-square-feet of space, and rustic charm, the building is also popular as a wedding venue. See the weddings page to find out more.
