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Here is the full version of the Task Force's report to evaluate the suitability of the Austin sawmill restoration as a Guild event, as compiled by Randy Churchill, with notes from members of the Task Force.

Over the weekend of August 20-22, 1998, representatives of the TFG met in Kinmount, Ontario, to evaluate the practicality of holding a Guild event to renovate the water powered sawmill there and help bring it back to working order.

The Austin Sawmill was a running, water-powered mill until the mid 1970s. At that time, the family-owned business decided to close the sawmill due to economic factors existing at the time. Recently, the Austin family has donated the mill and adjacent properties to the community for the purpose of creating a waterfront park and attraction for visitors to the area. The concept is to repair the mill to operation and possibly incorporate new facilities to cater to tourists and interested local concerns. To this end, the local action Committee has done a wonderful job creating a riverside park open to the public. The largest remaining task is renovation of the sawmill.

The dam on the river used to power the sawmill was extensively renovated and improved in 1998 by the Provisional Government. It requires no further effort or investment to function as a power source for the Sawmill.

The Sawmill building itself is in rather poor shape. Most of the building was built over top of the river with the penstock (water flow channel) being under the center of the building and contained by a timber structure and heavy planking to hold the water as it progressed to the water turbine in the downstream end of the building. Expelled water from the turbine was released at the end of the building to join the downstream flow. The mill room was located above the high water level and incorporated a circle saw with log deck, off feed conveyors, rip saw, cut off saws, and conveyors to distribute the various cut products. Also above the water level was a large tool room providing storage and access to power trains, and a more modern shed addition that was used as a planer and resaw room.

At the lowest level of the mill, the power turbine lays buried in silt and accumulated debris. Based upon the minimal evidence available, it is estimated that the turbine can be refurbished - which would probably be best done in situ. The rotating turbine is housed in a shell with multiple movable vanes around its perimeter that are used to control flow. Between the water turbine and the working saws are a large assortment of pulleys, belts, gears and assorted accoutrements to operate parts of the mill. This hardware appears to be remarkably complete and in relatively good shape. Little of it has been scavenged for use elsewhere or damaged by weather or vandals.

The lowest level of the mill consisted of a vast array of vertical timbers to support the building, hardware, and walls holding back water. Noticeable, by its absence, was racking support to prevent building list. Indeed, as the lower support timbers decayed or failed, the building's upper level shifted a couple of feet toward mid stream and a couple feet downstream. The planking used in the penstock is gone, leaving only nails and evidence of the room's construction. This heavily loaded room was timbered approximately every 4 feet on both sides, top and bottom. To this timber framework was attached two layers of planking. This penstock sloped down slightly through the building length until it reached the turbine where the room was headed off with more vertical posts and planking.

As most old working structures, this mill evolved with continuous modifications and improvements - some major and others relatively small. In the mid 1940s, the local town burned taking the sawmill with it. It was reconstructed by rebuilding the lower level to its old design and then topping it with another mill moved from another location. This new upper level has timber frame eave walls with a stick built roof structure. The added toolroom and planer room are both stick built. The size of this new upper structure did not line up with the footprint of the lower level and this eccentricity obviously led to overloaded carrying beams and asymmetry that probably contributed to the racking shift. The upper portion is basically sound by itself, but sits atop a rickety lower support structure.

The Task Force members took several rolls of film and some video coverage to document the status of the mill; these addressed both the structure and the mechanical systems.

A very active local coalition of concerned citizens have embraced the Austin Sawmill and Park project. They have done a marvelous job defining a goal and raising interest and support toward that end. While enthusiastic about the prospect of a riverside attraction, this group needs a technical evaluation of the mill structure and mechanicals to define what is a practical goal. Community support and spirit is very high for this project. At this writing, the original security fence has been moved further away to allow working access and shrubs and trees have been removed. A local architect has spent several hours in the mill, confirmed findings of our Guild Task Force, and prepared plans for review by the local Committee.

Raising the existing upper structure to allow work on the lower levels is the biggest challenge of the project. An expert in rigging and building raising has reviewed the site and is confident of success. He notes that the issue of most concern for him is the mechanical equipment and supports that will need to be lifted with the structure.

Task Force Recommendations
Restoring the Austin Sawmill to working operation for public viewing and access will be a large project. Much of the community support work is already accomplished, which illustrates community interest and commitment - the park and dam most notably. Raising interest and support for such a goal is quite often the most difficult task and this community has done remarkably well.

Rehabilitation - defined as restoring the conditions of the mill when last run - of the Austin Sawmill is not recommended for several reasons. The mill structure was not well planned nor stable as evidenced by its short 30-year life since a major overhaul. The stick framed upper portions are not of particular interest to the Guild; we propose that these be timbered, of course, and made into stable showrooms for activities. Hasty to keep the mill operating, owners took many shortcuts to minimize downtime. To make the mill into public space, the structure must be much more reliable and stable.

Renovation of the Sawmill is a viable option and could make a fine Guild project. The Guild's participation would be only one part of the whole process. The foremost technical challenge is to stabilize the racking structure and lift it so the repair of the underbelly can be safely addressed. With a new lower lever in place, the upper could be lowered onto it and the structure made sound.

As timber framers, our contribution could be to record the original design and modifications, coordinate the dismantling of existing undercarriage, and then the design, fabrication and installation of the new support work. Little of this will be seen in the final result, but it is essential for a safe structure. In addition, we could build new framing to replace the worn tool and planer rooms. This would be a departure from the existing structure, but would be long lasting and a showpiece for the timber framer's work. All of this work would follow the complicated rigging task of stabilizing the existing structure and then raising it to allow safe work to begin underneath. This should be contracted to a professional rigging and building moving crew and is considered essential prior to Guild involvement.

The scale of a Guild project is not considered large (by Guelph standards), but would be interesting to a segment of the membership because of its unique history and the marriage of mechanical works with a timber structure. The required timber work is massive, but basic joinery is involved. The unique loading of the building by hydrostatic, ice flow, mechanical and other forces makes it a unique project.

Relating the timber framer's work to an old model sawmill has terrific emotional value. Who could watch floating logs, rushing water, flying belts, and sawing of cants and not be impressed. We have contacted the Society for Preservation Of Old Mills (SPOOM) and they are enthusiastic as well. They have a chapter in the same region that plans to work closely with us and the local Committee in a joint effort to make a successful project.

Exposure of the Guild's participation is more a function of proper marketing energy than the actual building task. The local community is effervescent in its enthusiasm to get the Guild involved and will certainly broadcast our interests widely. The community is also well geared up to support the influx of people associated with such an event. A fairground area is close by that has numerous buildings for use, and camping, eating, supply, and other necessities abound. The area is rich in extracurricular activities for members and families.

The Guild is encouraged to pursue this activity with the local organizing committee. This Task Force expects that the Guild function would draw a membership involvement of 30-60 people to work for a long week. Obviously, preparation by local members and suppliers would need to be coordinated to make things run smoothly. Much of the work done to the mill will be hard physical labor to both dismantle and then replace components as access by lifts and machines will be a minimum. The local support is tremendously high and the tie between structure and building purpose is exciting.

Respectfully submitted by Guild Austin Sawmill Task Force:

Glenn Diezel - Ontario
Alfredo Rico - Ontario
Scott Russell - Ontario
Jim Kricker - New York
Charles Judd - Tennessee
Leon Buckwalter - New York
Harry Southworth - New Hampshire
Randy Churchill - Vermont

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