The Masten Lumber Mill of the Central Pennsylvania Company, which has been employing about 100 men, did its last bit of sawing last evening at 6 o’clock. The mill will be dismantled as soon as possible.

According to the tradition of the lumbermen, the steam whistle at the mill was tied down last evening to mark the closing of the property, and the shrill, wailing cry of escaping steam, telling the tale of desolation and abandonment could be heard re-echoing throughout the countryside, finally growing fainter and fainter and fading out as the steam from the cooling boilers gave out.

The mill, which has been operated by the Central Pennsylvania Lumber Company for about 14 years, has operated daily during that stretch of time, at least a single “trick” a day and sometimes double time. It has supplied lumber for points in Pennsylvania, New York and the New England states.

The closing of the mill, officials stated, was necessitated by the gradual exhaustion of available timber. The plant operated about 15 miles of tramway extending from the mill into Masten, where it connected with the Susquehanna and New York Railroad.
The approximately 100 men who were thrown out of employment, at least temporarily by the shut down will be partly taken care of by transfers to Sheffield. Others will be without work it is feared, although the company is attempting to use all the labor possible to the best possible advantage.

It is planned, officials said, to dispose of the land by selling it to the state if such disposition can be affected.

The mill was operated part time during the fall and early spring months, before it was purchased by the lumber company about 14 years ago. Since that time it has been operating every day. Jack Hoffman, of Masten, was acting general superintendent of the plant at the time of its shut down.

Compiled by Lou Hunsinger Jr.