Visit us and see the workings of an 1847 Saw Mill and how timber was sawed using the power of a water wheel.
The Saw Mill and Museum Complex is open
during the winter months by appointment only
Call 716-652-9458
LEARN MORE BY VISITING OUR SAWMILL WEBSITE BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW
Long before the Town of Elma was formed, twenty three saw mills dotted the area. Lumber was in abundance and so was the streams and creeks to power the mills. Lumber was going at eight dollars per thousand feet and that was a lot of money at that time. Instead of burning the timber to obtain land for farming, settlers constructed saw mills to convert the timber into
lumber and sell it in Buffalo, along with using it for homes and fencing.
In 1845 Clark W. Hurd, Joseph B. Briggs, Allen and Hiram Clark dug a mill race from Buffalo Creek and constructed a dam to divert water for the purpose of building a saw mill. A double saw mill was built and was in operation for many years.
The mill race still runs next to the museum, and the foundation of the old miil remains. This foundation was used to support the newly constructed water wheel.
Clark W. Hurd and the settlers that formed this great town in the 1800's have long passed away. Rather than watch and have this historic site become pure nostalgia and drift into memory, the Society has been active in the reconstruction of the water wheel. The water wheel will serve for historic purposes and show people how energy was harnessed in the 1800's.
It was built entirely by volunteer members of the society. It will attract students and residents interested in our Town's history.
