TOWN OF ELMA
Group seeks to resurrect old sawmill
By Nancy Gish
SOUTHTOWNS CORRESPONDENT
Updated: 07/11/08 6:57 AM
Officers of the Elma Historical Society have plans to resurrect the old sawmill over Buffalo Creek at Village Green Park, thanks to money from a private foundation and funds the society has raised.
Marlene Baumgartner, Historical Society president, and Frank Maciejewski, a Historical Society member, said plans are to use the original 1840 stanchions still in place to build a new waterwheel, then the sawmill.
The plan was detailed during a Wednesday work session of the Elma Town Board. It will not cost taxpayers anything, the Historical Society members said.
“The society has $5,000, and we have a guarantee of $5,000 from a private foundation, thanks to [State Supreme Court Justice] William Boller,” who arranged for the donation from a client, she said.
Maciejewski is drawing up plans for the waterwheel.
The Historical Society has asked the town for permission to place the waterwheel on town property, on the existing foundation, and is seeking help with clearing the land.
Later, the Historical Society plans to build a sawmill over the waterwheel. The mill is expected to cost $150,000 and will require further grant money.
It should attract schoolchildren and tourists, Baumgartner said.
In other business, Rich Willard and Joe Gauthier of the Elma Fire Company offered an update on plans to build a steel building on six acres it owns on Girdle Road next to the Boys and Girls Club. The members plan to put in restrooms and a training room, and use the space to house pumpers.
Willard acknowledged that operations in the new building could be a duplication of existing services but said the fire company hopes to draw more volunteers from this part of the town.
The building will be recessed 175 feet from the road. The company representatives said they expect to have something formally drawn up for the board to look at by the next board meeting Wednesday.
The fire company currently has a fire house on Bowen Road.
The new building on Girdle will not replace the old fire house but will provide additional space.
