Lumber, Farms & Mills

 

The rolling hills that make up much of Catlin’s landscape were covered in forests when the first settlers arrived. Pine, hemlock, maple, and beech were logged off, making way

for farming. The land was best suited for growing grains

like buckwheat and oats. James Wheeler built the first sawmill in town on Post Creek in 1827. That same year, James Ostrander constructed the first grist mill on the creek to grind locally-grown grain. Catlin Center had a steam-powered mill. The open land was also used for pasturing dairy cows. By the 1890s, Catlin farmers supplied two creameries in Big Flats and Veteran. The number of farms decreased through the 20th century, leaving only two major working farms today.