(from newspaper clippings and interview with Carlyle Searson)
Carlyle Searson (1939–) has always lived just south of Watford near the Searson Sawmill. He has three brothers, Darryl, Robert, and Harley. Their grandfather, James Searson, bought a Sawyer-Massey steam engine and threshing machine, which included a water wagon and caboose for sleeping, in 1928. Their father George (–1977), at the age of 18, and their uncle Bob, at the age of 13, took it over and they made a living threshing until combines took over in the early 1960s.
The Searsons bought the sawmill at Sutorville (Brooke Twp.) from the Saunders family in 1934. They set up the mill on the 12th line in Brooke (LaSalle Line). By 1939 they had moved the mill to Watford, just south of the tracks on Nauvoo Rd. The mill was built in 1875, originally an American outfit. George rebuilt all the wooden parts for it. He worked with it until 1977, the year he passed away.
George Searson was one of the founders of the Western Ontario Steam Threshers Association, which held their show in Brigden for many years. He also helped found the annual steam show in Blyth in 1962.
Carlyle was brought up with the mill and worked and learned the business, as did the other boys. There was always work to do and they started at an early age piling wood and cleaning up until they could work the mill themselves. But as time passed there was less demand for their services, as modern gas machinery took over. Instead of getting up at 6 a.m. to get the fire going and steam built up so one could start at 8 a.m., one only needed to start a gas engine in an instant. Searsons kept the old steam method.
Carlyle married Marilyn Clark. He worked with Bruce Sharp of Watford as a carpenter, then joined the carpenters union in Sarnia, where he worked for over 45 years.
In 1982 Carlyle did some rebuilding of the mill and some custom sawing for others. The steam engine runs the slab saws, the edger, sawdust carrier, log turner and the carriage. The engine in his mill is from 1947. He now owns four steam engines.
Carlyle and Marilyn’s son Jason started running engines at steam threshers shows at age nine. He and his wife Cindy have purchased their own Sawyer-Massey steam engine and are both active in promoting the annual Steam Threshers Annual Show. Jason and Cindy’s children, Jesse and Amber, are now learning to run the engines, creating the fifth generation of Searson steam operators.
Carlyle and Marilyn’s other son Scott and his wife Anne are in charge of the flea market and food vendors for the Annual Western Ontario Steam Threshers Show that has moved to Forest. The 50th Annual Show was held in 2007. Their children Jenna and Shannon are learning to run the engines, a part of the fifth generation of Searson steam operators.
Carlyle Searson in his saw mill, 2007. Courtesy P Janes.
Chapter 24 of 25 - Searson Family
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