Cloyne Pioneer Museum & Archives

Marcella Neely | Jul 13, 2016

As far back as the early 1800s, this area was logging country. Men traveled hundreds of miles through rugged terrain in uncomfortable conditions to carve out a living in lumber camps. Some came with families; others' families joined them later. To accommodate the increased population, the companies built living quarters, hired women to cook and eventually schools and churches began to spring up. The stories of these early settlers come to life in the Cloyne Museum.

When you are at the Sawyer Stoll display, you'll want to glance at the grocery and supply invoices. The prices are difficult to believe, as is the payroll ledger. Some of the available tools used in logging and farming will make you wonder how anyone could work with them. An old solid steel McCulloch #47 chainsaw testifies to the challenges men accepted as routine. The chainsaw was donated to the museum by Frank Meeks. It had been used by James Hawley Meeks until he was 94 years of age. He bought the saw brand new and cut a cord of wood with it every day until he was 94.

The museum is open every day all summer from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is on Hwy #41 directly across from the Cloyne Post Office. We look forward to your visit.