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Seward’s first sawmill
Photo courtesy of Resurrection Bay Historical Society
When Seward’s founders landed at Resurrection Bay on Aug. 28, 1903, among the equipment they brought with them were a pile driver and a sawmill.
When Seward’s founders landed at Resurrection Bay on Aug. 28, 1903, among the equipment they brought with them were a pile driver and a sawmill.
The first thing done after everyone was ashore was to set up a temporary camp kitchen to prepare a noon meal. After eating they set to work assembling the pile driver at the end of what is now Fourth Avenue and the sawmill near the foot of Bear Mountain.
At noon on the Aug. 29 a long blast of the mill’s whistle announced the start of cutting logs into lumber for the construction of the dock and new town.
The pile driver answered with a blast to signal the first strike of the hammer to build the dock.
According to John Ballaine, Seward’s founder, within 10 days, after their arrival, winter quarters were provided for all and a 16’ x 18’-foot school house was under construction for the 12 children of the community.
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