The Miller’s Tale

February 14, 2011    7 p.m.

February meeting to feature Ledyard’s unique up-down sawmill

Time was when every community of any substance had a sawmill. Particularly in New England, trees, the raw materials for building, were plentiful and the streams provided water power to operate machinery. It made sense to cut, saw and use the timber all in the same area. The 1868 map of Ledyard shows no fewer than six sawmills, along with several grist mills and shingle mills.

Nearly all the neighborhood water-powered sawmills are gone now, but Ledyard is fortunate to have a very rare example of a 19^th Century “up-down” mill, the only one known to be operating with its original machinery on its original site. Owned by the town and administered by the Historic District Commission, the mill is operated during the spring and fall by a dedicated group of volunteers.

At our February 14^th meeting, sawmill volunteers Alan Ganong and Warren Dolphin will discuss the history of the Ledyard up-down sawmill, and explain the workings and technology of our mill and other early sawmills in New England’s past. The meeting will be held at the Bill Library in Ledyard, beginning at 7:00 PM. The Bill Library is located at 718 Colonel Ledyard Highway. Please come and bring a friend.

For further information on the Ledyard up-down sawmill visit the mill’s website, www.ledyardsawmill.org, or see it on Facebook: facebook.com/ledyardsawmill

Can You Tell Tales Out of School?

April 10, 2011    7 p.m.

April meeting a forum on one-room schools

Until 1949, Ledyard had 14 school districts, all but one with its own school. Most of these taught eight grades in a single room with one teacher. Remarkably, of the 13 schools, nine survive, although not all in Ledyard. This is thought to be a record for the entire state. A majority of survivors have been re-purposed as dwellings or business offices, but three are preserved or restored in their original form and can be seen by appointment.

At our April 10^th meeting the Society will hold a forum on one- (and two-) room schoolhouses. The program will begin with a short presentation on Ledyard’s schools by town historian Kit Foster. Following the presentation, the forum will be opened to all who wish to participate, to share their memories of this form of elementary education or  imply to ask questions.

The meeting will be held at the Ledyard Senior Center on Tuesday, April 10^th, beginning at 7:00 PM. The Senior Center is located at 12 Van Tassel Drive in Gales Ferry.