Our Story

Constructed by Joel Robinson in 1803, the mill was initially powered by an overshot water wheel and lumber was cut using an “up-and-down” saw. This early technology was later replaced by a turbine powering a circular saw. In the twentieth century, the power source was an internal combustion engine. However, the turbine was left in place and has been restored largely through the efforts of local volunteers. The circular saw and its carriage were manufactured in Montpelier’s Lane Shops nearly 150 years ago.

The mill is now owned and operated by a not-for-profit organization known as The Robinson Sawmill. It has not been used as a working mill since the 1960s mainly because sediment in the pond has blocked the penstock which supplies the water to turn the machinery. Still, the mill has been a favorite site for the community to hold picnics and for history buffs to enjoy a look at the building and machinery. 

In 2016, the trustees of the organization began a concerted effort to restore the mill and get it operating. Much of the original stonework had become unstable and had to be replaced. Additionally, many of the timber supporting the building had rotted and the entire building was out of plumb and out of level. This work took several years. At the same time, permits from both the State of Vermont and the federal government were needed to enable sediment removal from the pond and to ensure that water quality downstream was maintained. With those permits finally in place, the last phase of the work can go forward. This is entails replacing the valve that directs water through the penstock (the large pipe in the north side of the mill). That work will begin in Fall 2023.