#4 Visiting the Sawmill: Seeing the Timber Frame Take Shape

As the Timber Oaks build progressed, Craig hoped to see where the white oak logs were being cut. Amy of Lancaster County Timber Frames coordinated with Budd’s Creek Lumber in Mechanicsville, Maryland, and confirmed the order was well underway. With the mill closed for Easter weekend, Craig took advantage of a free day and drove into Southern Maryland Amish country to visit.

Arrival at Budd’s Creek

Before leaving, he called the mill — and as expected, the phone rang unanswered. But shortly before he arrived, Amish sawyer Andrew Stoltzfus returned the call and guided him through the back roads with directions far better than GPS.

At the mill, Craig was greeted by towering stacks of white oak and the open‑air sawmill where Andrew’s brother welcomed him and fetched Andrew. While waiting, Craig walked the perimeter, taking in the scent of fresh oak and the rows of newly cut timbers. Andrew confirmed the order was nearly complete and would soon head to Cambridge for surfacing, fumigation, and delivery to LCTF by late April.

Finding the Future Frame

Across the lot, metal U‑shaped bins marked “LC” held the timbers already cut. Craig moved through them, spotting the 8x8 posts, 6x10 girts, 6x12 curved‑chord stock, and pieces destined for knee braces, ridge beams, purlins, and trusses. Inside the mill, he watched logs being trimmed, debarked, and stacked for cutting. Curious about the workflow, he asked how each log was assigned. Andrew’s brother kept a list of required pieces and matched logs to what they could yield; unsuitable logs became boards instead.

A Timber of Our Own

Craig watched as a large‑diameter log was loaded onto the cutting sled. Andrew mentioned it might become part of the Timber Oaks order. Moments later, Craig reached the outfeed just in time to see a fresh 8x8 slide off the line — confirmed as one of our timbers for Timber Oaks.

A Deeper Appreciation

By the time he began the long drive back to Lancaster, Craig carried a clearer sense of the craftsmanship behind the frame — each timber chosen, cut, and shaped with intention long before it reaches the Timber Oaks site.