Saw mill, grist and shingle mill established by Isaac Currie 1860 on the Fall River. Maberly. Photo: Library of Archives Canada 1870
The Old Saw Mill – By the Mississippi River–by Unknown
In a little town so still
There’s a building old and battered
‘Tis the old saw-mill.
It is twisted, it is tattered
From the toil of many years
The walls are scratched and shattered
Yet it shows no sign of fear.
The carriage growls and grumbles
As it journeys to and fro,
And the engine howls and mumbles
Making all the pullies go.
The belts all need relacing.
And the track is out of line.
The saw should have refacing.
Ere it splits another pine.
The melting snow is dripping
Through the knot holes in the roof,
But the saw goes on a ripping
She’s still running that is proof.
The saw-dust chain is whining
How that edger saw does throb
But the boss looks quite contented
Perth Remembered photo-PENMAN’S SAWMILL MIDDLEVILLE 1910
For it’s still doing the job.
No matter what the weather
The work goes on the same
There’s no excuse for stopping
For the weather man’s to blame
What’s it matter if its raining.
What’s it matter if it snows.
There is no use complaining.
And so that’s the way it goes.
Caldwell Steam Sawmill in Wilbur-photo from Ruby and Raymond Blackburn
At the edger there’s a fellow
Who is working all the day
He wears a suit of yellow
And he’s drawing steady pay.
His name is Erwin Downey
And across the track from him
Is the faithful Ira Deugo,
Who is working with such vim.
Eric Needham, known as Kelly
Is the man who piles the slabs
He is one of our best workers
Maberly-Mill
Yet he loves to stand and gab.
Joey Bowman helps the teamster
And is always in the way
Yet he does his best and that is worth
The very best of pay.
Wash. Sheffield from Arnprior
Is the sawyer of the crew
He pulls and shoves the levers
While tobacco he does chew
And our well known comedian
Who is anything but green
Perth Remembered—Penmans Saw Mill Gang–Middleville
Is the man who twirls the can hook
His name is Lornie Steen.
The boy who saws the slabs in lengths.
Provides us lots of fun
His name is Gordie Belford
But we always call him Hon.
The fellow that I near forgot
Is always on the go
He follows two good horses
And he doesn’t dare be slow.
Perth Historical Society Photo-Thanks to Brad Nichols, of Lanark, who advises that this is the former Caldwell Grist and Sawmill on the Clyde River in Lanark.
The horses too deserve a line
In this our loggers song.
The ever willing workers
Who are so true and strong.
And last of all the scaler
Who is the foreman too
Stands there all day and keeps the score
Of all the work we do.
He sees the boards come sliding out.
And always he’s the same
Through rain or shine through work or rest
Frank Needham is his name.
And here I end my story
Before Riverside park, there was Caldwell’s Saw Mill. Located approximately where the beach is now, this saw mill operated from 1869 to 1891. Photo- Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
I hope you’ll think its fine
The story of the loggers
Who love the smell of pine.
Now if you plan on building
A barn or anything
Here’s where to get your lumber sawed
Just visit us next spring.
Related reading
Where Was Hunter’s Mill and Huntersville?
Memories and Mentions of Names in Maberly
thanks to the Sabourin Scrapbook
lindaseccaspina 