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- [S106] The Mountain Press, 11 Jul 2011.
Upland Chronicles: Blalock ran sawmill in Pittman Center
by THERESA WILLIAMS
In the early part of the 1900s the logging industry thrived in the Smoky Mountains. Land was either bought, or a tract of timber was purchased for cutting.
Cutting timber was back-breaking work that not only taxed the body, but the spirit.
The first to tackle the project was the “Cuttin’ Crew.” This crew consisted of three men.
One man would be the ax man who would cut a lead. This cut determined in which direction the tree should fall. Next, two men on the opposite side from the lead cut would use a cross-cut saw to fell the tree. Depending on the size of the tree this would take a few minutes or several hours.
When the tree was ready to fall, a loud screech was heard, than a “whoosh” when it hit the ground. When the tree was laid down the Cuttin’ Crew then went to the next tree.
Another crew consisting of men with axes and saws would descend upon the downed tree. Limbs were cut and pulled to one side, and the tree trunk was exposed. The tree trunk was cut into logs, suitable to be sawed.
Logging tongs were driven into the log; chains were attached to the tongs that ran to a singletree. Various chains and leather straps then attached the log to a team of horses or oxen. The driver had to watch very carefully as the log was pulled along.
One wrong move would cause the log to roll, which caused grave injury to the horses or driver. The trip to the saw mill was not easy. Mud would cause the log to stick in the ground; crossing the creek could cause the log to float away.
Eventually the log arrived at the sawmill. Strong men with a log peavies or pike poles rolled the log onto the carriage of the sawmill. The saw mill was run by a gas engine, and the man who ran the mill made adjustments that guided the carriage carrying the log into the saw.
The saw was a big round metal blade, with teeth, that made a deafening sound as it chewed its way through the log. At the other side of the saw blade men called “Off Bearers” picked up the plank or timber and neatly stacked it to one side.
William Walter Blalock ran a sawmill in the Pittman Center area of Sevier County. Blalock had a gift of being able to cut a log at the saw mill in such a manner as to prevent mist waste. He also could look at a living tree as it stood in the forest and tell to the exact foot how much board feet the tree contained.
Blalock called his process of estimating board feet as cruzing timber. He ran sawmills before and after he went to work with the CCCs. He taught the young CCC boys all aspects of being a lumberman.
A story told by his granddaughter, Wanda Howard Fisher, goes like this:
“He needed a bridge across the river at Richardson Cove River. In the middle of the night he, with a group of men, and several large trucks went to Sevierville. There they found the remains of Old Shaky that lay beside the river. They pulled the bridge all the way to Richardson Cove, and installed it the next day.”
On another occasion, according to Wanda, “He had only one car in his life. One day he ran off the bank of the road. He sold the car then and there, and never drove again.”
William Walker Blalock was born Aug. 6, 1878, in Sevier County, and died Jan. 22, 1966, in Knoxville. He married Nancy Jane McMahan on June 20, 1897. Nancy Jane was the daughter of William and Mary Dixon McMahan. She was born May 7, 1881, in Sevier County and died April 11, 1969, in Knoxville.
William Walker and Nancy Jane had the following children: Hansen Arvil, Margaret Ann, Ora Alvin, Dicie Paralee, Coy Linclon, Benjamin Franklin, Mary Elizabeth, Drexel Mae, Dot Dexter, Sally Eunav, Willie Valerie, and George Cooledge.
Sally Eunav Blalock, daughter of William Walker and Nancy Jane McMahan Blalock, was born Sept. 12, 1916, in Sevier County. She died Oct. 20, 1988. She married David Arthur Howard on March 20, 1932. He was the son of Joseph and Martha Yarberry Howard. Sally Eunav and David Arthur Howard had the following children: Wanda, Geneva, and Rex.
Wanda married Emert Hayes Fisher. Wanda is a wonderful lady who volunteers her services at the Sevier County Public Library/Genealogy Department.
— Theresa Williams is a genealogist for the Sevier County Public Library System History Center. The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you have suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a story or have comments please contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411or e-mail to cmcmahan@scoc.org or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or email to ron@ronraderproperties.com.
- [S94] Sevier County, Tennessee Census, 350, 1880.
http://sevierlibrary.tripod.com/page71880.html
- [S75] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume II, 1955-1973, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 22 Jan 1967.
Blalock, Walter William 88 b. 8-6-78 TN d. 1-22-67 Fountain View Rest Home Knox sawmill operator & farmer f. George Blalock m. Emaline Spurgeon Evans Chapel Cem Survivors: widow Nancy McMahan Sev R6 5 dau Mrs Mary Hurst Sev Mrs Dicie Hurst Sev Mrs Eunavee Howard Sev Mrs Drexel Howard Knox Mrs Troy Ramsey Rockford 2 sons Dot R6 Sev George Concord 35 gc 56 ggc 1 gggc 2 bro R J Blalock White Pine George Blalock Cosby 2 sis Mrs Ethel Blalock Sev Lizzie Ownby Cosby several n/n mem and deacon Pearl Valley Bapt Ch.
- [S87] Death Certificate.
Name Date of Death / Age County of Death County / State of Residence Marital Status Gender Race File #
BLALOCK WALTER W 01-22-1967 / 88 KNOX SEVIER / TN MARRIED M WHITE 01356
- [S34] In the Shadow of the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, (1993), 406.
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