LUMBER CHOICES AT COWLS SAWMILL

All of Cowls' land is managed to assure benefits to wildlife, water and recreation while sustainably providing logs to its sawmill. It's green certified under the American Tree Farm System.

Cowls produces a wide variety of lengths and widths of pine, oak and hemlock lumber in 14 patterns and post and beam timbers up to 34' long.

Special orders are Cowls' specialty. Challenge us with requests for any thickness, width, length and quantity you need. We think we can make you happy!

Cowls timbers can be planed on site and grade stamped for structural guarantees when building codes require.

TREES WE USE AT COWLS

HISTORY
Eastern white pine played an important role in the history of Massachusetts and the American Revolution. The tall, wide trunks of white pine provided the masts for British warships. In 1691 the Crown claimed all white pines above a certain size and growing on public land be reserved for their navy. Anger over this policy contributed to the colonists' resentment of the British.

The early citizens of the United States used white pine for construction and shipbuilding. By the middle of the 1800s, most of the original pine had been cut. In the 1900s, the mature second growth  was cut extensively to make wood boxes for industrial products manufactured in New England and shipped worldwide.

Commercial Uses & Characteristics
Eastern white pine is the major softwood specie harvested in Massachusetts. The lumber of this tree is light in weight and moderately low in strength, with fairly uniform texture and straight grain.

Most higher quality eastern white pine is harvested for appearance grade lumber used for solid doors, furniture, millwork, shipbuilding, paneling, toys and novelties. Lower quality lumber is used for containers and packaging.

HISTORY
Eastern hemlock was an important tree to the early residents of Massachusetts. The bark of the tree was used to prepare leather for curing. Hemlock was also used in the construction of homes during colonial times. It was not until the early part of the 20th century that the use of eastern hemlock for framing lumber declined and was replaced by lumber from the northwest and southeastern United States and Canada.

Commercial Uses & Characteristics
The lumber of eastern hemlock is coarse and uneven in texture, and moderate in weight and strength. Eastern hemlock lumber is mostly used for building construction and in the manufacture of boxes, pallets, and crates. Hemlock pulpwood is used in the manufacture of paper.

HISTORY
Because of its strength and straight grain, northern red oak has been highly valued throughout history. Red oak was used extensively at the turn of the 20th century for furniture, pianos, interior trim, and decorative work.

Commercial Uses & Characteristics
Northern red oak is the most valuable hardwood species harvested in Massachusetts. The lumber of this tree is usually straight-grained and very stiff. It is used in the manufacture of cabinets and furniture, boats, millwork, and flooring. Northern red oak makes exceptional firewood because it gives off a lot of heat and because its straight grain makes it easy to split. Red oak is highly tolerant of pollution and poor urban soils, so it is an important street and park tree.

Credit: Information from "Trees We Use" produced cooperatively by the Berkshire Pioneer RC&D Area, Inc. and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management American Forests, October 2002.