HARRISON — The Historic Scribner’s Saw Mill and Homestead will be open this coming Saturday July 17 from 1 – 4. Come early enough to be able to enjoy the tour of the mill where you learn how to put together a barrel, watch the shingle mill slicing off shingles in the long shed, the blacksmith operating the forge in the blacksmith shop, and tour the Homestead. The barn, chicken, & ice houses are also open for self-guided tours.
Special this year will be our celebration of Maine’s 200th birthday with a “Back to the Past” event on August 14. Mark your calendar.
Scribner’s Mill Preservation will be following the CDC guidelines as they change. We ask that those who have not been vaccinated to follow suit.
Scribner’s Mill is found south of Bolsters Mills on Jesse Mill Rd. crossing over the Crooked River Bridge into the Town of Harrison, the mill is on the left. From Routes 35 or 117, follow the Maine State Directional signs found at Carsley or Maple Ridge Roads respectively. For those following their GPS from Rte. 121, continue on Bolsters Mills Rd. to Jesse Mill Rd. instead of turning onto the Tamworth Rd.
A $5 donation for each adult is requested. Check our website scribnersmill.org for more information about the mill.
Historic Note: Throughout the years, Scribner’s Mill has experienced a number of high water events or “freshets”. The first recorded was on Thursday 25, 1847 (Thanksgiving Day) during the time when the mill was being constructed. From Dr. Barrows diary: “Brother Worthy came up from the Sawmill soon after dark after help to go down to watch the Dam and water works, as there is now quite a freshet…. Hitched the mare to a tree and proceeded to shoveling gravel and to work upon the Dam.” The next one in March 1896 took out the bridge and the NE section of the mill. In an April 22, 1914 entry in Alfred Smith’s diary (Harrison Historical Society) he noted, “They say there is trouble down to Scribner’s Mill. A regular wash out and the mill came near going.” Then in 1936, Catherine Scribner Calef shared that “He (Jesse) was 65 years old, facing rebuilding his mill while recovering from the depression years.” Three more floods followed: one in June 1942 when the earthen part of the dam broke and the logs in the mill pond floated down river, then in 1953 the bridge was taken out, and the last most devastating was March 17, 1977, one year into the restoration of the mill, a large block of ice came through the breached dam and took out the center piling causing the river side of the mill to collapse into the river.
1896 damage to the mill.
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