| This is Blade Millworks, located on the east side of Strum. From the late 1940s until about 1957 this was the site of Roy H. Matson & Sons Millworks. The next owner was Bud Brion of Strum. Bud had worked for Roy. This started off as a relatively small operation in comparison to today's. I recall our plant being a shop with an industrial size wood molder, a big rip saw, large jointer, saws, drill press and a shaper. There was a dry kiln for preparing red oak for its future, a storage unit for finished product, a small office and behind the office a boiler and boiler room that furnished the steam for the kiln. Any lumber was stored outside. But, more likely the rough-sawed lumber was hauled in and stacked for drying in the kiln. I have no idea of the extent of today's operation at Blade Millworks. But from this picture, I can conclude that the volume is many times what is was fifty years ago. |
