May 1, 1878: 15 year mill privilege granted by Albert C. Elderkin of Athol, Cumberland Co., to Isaac Spicer of Apple River. Recorded in Book YY, page 333, Cumberland County Registry of Deeds

The Young Mill-Wright and Miller's Guide” (http://www.greenbankmill.org/oliverevans.html). states on page 342 that “the mechanism of a complete sawmill is such as to produce the following effects, namely:-

1) To move the saw up and down with a sufficient motion and power. (rotary saw for steam)

2) To move the log to meet the saw.

3) To stop of itself when within 3 inches of being through the log. (passes completely through the saw for steam)

4) To draw the carriage with the log back, by the power of water, so that the log may be ready to enter again. (by the power of steam for a steam mill)

For the water powered mill, the primary waterwheel is the prime mover for 1, 2, and 3. The secondary waterwheel powers item 4.

The Apple River arbor seems to fit the description of the device used to “return” the log carriage to the start position in a water powered mill called a “Rag Wheel” saw mill. This type of mill used two waterwheels: a large, primary waterwheel and a smaller, secondary waterwheel.  “Rag” refers to a ratchet arrangement that was used by the carriage to move the log into the saw.

The primary waterwheel was used to move the saw in an up and down motion and to operate the ratchet arrangement. The secondary waterwheel was used to return a carriage to the start position after the log passed through the saw.  In West Apple River, you can see the remnants of the shaft of a secondary waterwheel.