HARRISON — The Historic Scribner’s Saw Mill and Homestead site is scheduled to be open for tours from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 16, on Jesse Mill Road.

People can tour the mill to learn about the Sash saw used to cut lumber and how to make a barrel, see exhibits in the Long and Exhibit Sheds, and tour the homestead. The barn and ice houses are also open for self-guided tours. The blacksmith shop will be open, but the blacksmith is not available this weekend to demonstrate the forge.

While Jesse Scribner ran the mill, his wife, Birdena “Birdie” was in charge of the homestead. After raising their family, then taking care of Birdie’s father, Jesse and Birdie had two years of an empty nest before tragedy struck on Oct. 10, 1935, according to a news release from the homestead.

Mabel, their daughter-in-law, was struck with what she thought was a cold after Ed, their five children and a nephew had attended the Fryeburg Fair. As she grew worse, they called for the local doctor to come see Mabel. Dr. Ruby Day immediately called for an ambulance to take Mabel to the hospital. She died while on the way in the ambulance. Afterwards, she was diagnosed as having polio.

Mabel’s five children were all under the age of 10. One by one, they moved into their grandparent’s home. First it was Catherine, then Phyllis, then Lucy and finally the two boys.

The homestead was occupied by the Scribner Family until 1983. Since then, it has been restored to its period of significance of 1924, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is owned by Scribner’s Mill Preservation, Inc.

A $5 donation for each adult is requested.

For more information about the mill, visit scribnersmill.org.

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