“The Southern Forest Heritage Museum, located in Long Leaf, Louisiana, is the oldest complete sawmill facility in the South. This complex is unique in that it is a complete sawmill complex dating from the early 20th century, and that it has the most complete collection of steam-powered logging and milling equipment known to exist. The museum is spread over a 57 acre area. On the property is the commissary, providing an entrance to the museum, the Planer Mill, the Planer Mill Power Plant, the Water Pumping Station, the Round House, the Machine Shop, the Car-knocker Shop, the Sawmill, the Sawmill Power Plant, and Storage Sheds. Railroad equipment that can be seen at the museum includes three locomotives, a McGiffert Loader, and a rare Clyde Rehaul Skidder.\u00a0 In addition, one can see many artifacts that were left in place when the mill closed February 14, 1969.”<\/p>\n
The above paragraph comes from the opening page of the museum’s website.\u00a0 These words don’t come close to describing all there is to see at this place.\u00a0 The mill complex was family owned and operated as the Crowell Long Leaf Lumber Company.\u00a0 As stated above, the operation started in the early part of the 20th century, and abruptly shut down one day in 1969.\u00a0 What is really unique about this is the way many ongoing activities there were literally caught in time when this happened.\u00a0 To me, the most obvious thing was the logging flat car under construction in the car shops.\u00a0 The partially constructed car is still sitting there exactly as it was left in 1969 when everyone walked away!<\/p>\n
The mill complex is relatively complete.\u00a0 The sawmill, planer mill, kilns, boiler house, sorting sheds…all are still there.\u00a0 Some of the machinery still operates.\u00a0 Originally the mill was steam powered, and there is an elaborate system of shafts, pulleys and belts to operate the equipment.\u00a0 In later years, the mill converted to electric motor power, but the belt and pulley infrastructure is all still there.<\/p>\n
Parked under a big sorting shed is an array of vehicles and machinery that were used by the company: trucks, lumber carriers, fire break machines, bulldozers, and much more.<\/p>\n
Of course, for me, the crown jewels are the remnants from the logging operation.\u00a0 The Crowell family owned and operated the Red River and Gulf Railroad, and three steam locomotives are still on the property.\u00a0 The roundhouse (which is actually a rectangular engine house), the car shop and other facilities are all open for inspection.\u00a0 There are a couple logging cars, a pair of McGiffert loaders (one of which is being restored), and the Clyde skidder.\u00a0 The skidder is unusual in that it is double ended, with a centrally mounted boiler, and operating machinery on either end.\u00a0 Even the vast array of “junk” scattered in the nearby woods is interesting.\u00a0 There are pieces and parts of all sorts of machinery, and the remains of several steam locomotives that were scrapped, including some Shays.<\/p>\n
The museum folks have been slowly, but surely stabilizing the property from further deterioration, and have been doing a limited amount of restoration work.\u00a0 The mill superintendent\u2019s house has become the museum office, and the company store has been restored and is used as the entry point, museum and gift shop for the complex.\u00a0 The original trackage at the back and side of the property has been extended and now forms a loop around the perimeter, where rides are occasionally offered on the company\u2019s speeders or their recently acquired motor car.\u00a0 The motor car, numbered M-4, was formerly operated by the Fernwood, Columbia and Gulf Railroad, and was donated to the museum by Louis Saillard.\u00a0 It is in operation, and is being restored, bit by bit, to its original glory.<\/p>\n
I could write pages about this place, but it really has to be visited to be fully appreciated.\u00a0 It is a great way to spend a day (and it will take that long to really see everything at a leisurely pace).\u00a0 Long Leaf is located about 24 miles south of Alexandria, Louisiana.\u00a0 The town of Forest Hill is just a few miles north.<\/p>\n
Here’s a link to their website:<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.forestheritagemuseum.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n -Jack<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “The Southern Forest Heritage Museum, located in Long Leaf, Louisiana, is the oldest complete sawmill facility in the South. This complex is unique in that it is a complete sawmill complex dating from the early 20th century, and that it … Continue reading