Quality and innovation go back a long way at Robbins Lumber
When Frank and Otis Robbins first opened their small stave mill on St. George River in 1881, it was only the beginning. In those days production stopped in July at the water-powered mill as the St. George's River flow diminished. Trees were cut with crosscut saws and axes. Saws were filed by lantern light.
In 1912, the family business began to grow as Otis' son James installed the first long lumber carriage. His son Lawrence, brought diesel power to the mill in 1947, finally enabling year-round operation.
Disaster struck in 1957, when the mill burned to the ground. Looking forward rather then back, the Robbins family rebuilt the stave mill, but added a new sawmill.
A year later, with the new mills in operation, the family added another dimension to Robbins Lumber, planting their first Christmas trees. By 1968, the year those first trees were harvested - Robbins was planting 20,000 Christmas trees a year.
In 1969, in need of more space and no longer dependent upon water power, the mill was moved to its current site.