J. W. Willis founded the lumber company in 1887.
Steam was used to provide the power for the sawmill.
All logs and lumber were moved by horses.
In 1908 the tragedy struck, the entire mill went up in flames.
The mill was rebuilt and production resumed.
Willard S. Willis took over the lumber company operation in 1909. Trucks began to replace the horses.
This 1915 "WHITE" truck featured solid rubber tires and a chain drive.
This giant burr oak log came from Wilmington, Ohio around 1913. It weighted 20,000 pounds.
The tree it came from yielded 16 logs. It was quite a match for the band mill at that time.