Longleaf Sawmill is an abandoned old ruin in Louisiana, USA. The sawmill which was involved in the production of pine timber also played a major role in World War II. The mill which is currently a museum later closed its doors permanently on 14th February 1969.

The story behind the longleaf sawmill

Longleaf sawmill was established by Claudia Troll, the director of Southern Forest Heritage Museum by then. The sawmill was involved in the processing of harvested longleaf pine trees in the nearby woodland. A railroad connecting the sawmill to the forest was constructed shortly afterward by the company to facilitate easy transport of harvested trees. 

Its existence attracted many job seekers and soon a small town of Longleaf was established around the mill. The mill had the largest timber cutting blade making it the best and most well-equipped sawmill in town. During the Second World War, the mill played a major role in providing the army with high-quality water resistance timber that was used to build boats. This was an added advantage to the soldiers in the war.

The downfall of a promising mill.

In February of 1969, the gigantic blade that was a major toll in the processing of timber broke down taking the mill to a temporary closure. East Forest Heritage Museum who were the managers of the sawmill saw no use in repairing the blade since it would have cost a fortune. After a few months of soul seeking and difficult decisions, the company resulted in shutting the sawmill down permanently leaving hundreds of workers jobless. One by one the employees left the small settlement that was provided by the company in search of work elsewhere. Since then, the Longleaf sawmill stands rejected in the middle of a partial forest. 

How is the longleaf sawmill currently?

The sawmill is still intact as it was in the 1900s. Most of the tools and equipment are lying inside the mill unperturbed. The houses at the company's settlement that used to host their employees have been reclaimed by nature and are barely hanging onto life. The railroad which is currently partially covered by surface soil and grass can still be seen as it runs from the forest to the mill. In the late 1900s, the directors of the sawmill company (East Forest Heritage Museum) wrote a letter requesting for the mill to be turned into a historic landmark. It was approved and the mill is currently a museum attracting thousands of tourists yearly. Longleaf Sawmill Museum is open to the general public to tour at any given time. The current management offers guided tours in the museum and its environs.