3.2 Logging and Sawmills The first water-wheel sawmill was built in Burlington in the late 1880s by Josiah Roberts. By 1902 his sons William and Elias had set up the first steam sawmill. By the 1920s there were as many as 7 sawmills operating in Burlington, employing more than 50 men. In 1921 more than 57,000 logs were cut, producing 750,000 superficial ft. of spruce lumber, 10,000 ft. of pine, and 430,000 ft. of other timber. Timber production also included 162 wharf sticks, 43,000 staves, 450,000 wood shingles, 17,000 lathes and 40 fence posts. The value of timber produced in 1920 was $57,000. Much of this was marketed outside the community, and particularly to St. John’s. The harvesting of pit-props, pulpwood and firewood was also carried out within the community. Most saw mills were located along a fresh water brook close to the water’s edge. The Thistle Family were prominent lumbering merchants who moved from King’s Point to set up their sawmill and business at the waterfront near Government Wharf.
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Cultural Resource Study: BURLINGTON, NEWFOUNDLAND
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