Sam and Jennifer Trott watched Tuesday as the pieces of their sawmill — an operation which has sustained their family’s livelihood for 39 years — were loaded onto a truck and hauled down Card Road for the last time. They’re sharing, though, more sighs of relief than tears.
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Sam and Jennifer Trott watched Tuesday as the pieces of their sawmill — an operation which has sustained their family’s livelihood for 39 years — were loaded onto a truck and hauled down Card Road for the last time. They’re sharing, though, more sighs of relief than tears.
Jennifer climbs out of a loader to talk about these recent changes. Running the sawmill has actually been more of her job. “There are no tears,” she said with affirmation.
The decision to permanently close the sawmill was not one made in haste. After all, they’ve been knee-deep in sawdust for years and the mill is a long-time fixture in the Halls Mill community.
There were no lay-offs; they were quick to point out. It had nothing to do with supply and demand or even the pandemic. “It’s simply our age and my family obligations,” explains Jennifer.
A grandmother now, Jennifer wants to spend more time with her 6 grandchildren and needs to care for her elderly parents. “I’m at work again,” she says with a smile.
She laughs when she says she looks forward to more attractive fingernails. (She tore one last week on one of her last runs.)
Life in lumber
Business owners are often hard-pressed when it comes to making such changes, as it can affect family and the community. They prayed first and felt assured, because their 3 children are on to other careers.
Now, it’s just the two of them rambling around that mill—each of them ideally ready to enter those golden years with a little more family time.
Life is about to take on a different perspective from their home on Card Road, which is next to the mill. Jennifer says this is why they decided not to rent or lease the sawmill.
With Sam at the helm, Trott Lumber will continue for now as a full time operation of timber logging, plus delivery. Jennifer says with all seriousness, “I don’t go to the woods.”
Since the mill closing, there’s an inside family joke about whether the building will be used for storage or become Jennifer’s “she-shed.” They both laugh; he’s certainly got enough tractors, etc., to fill it, she said.
In addition to timber, cattle consume some of the property. But the couple quickly point out that they traded in beef for lumber a long time ago; they lease acreage.
Sam added the logging business about 20 years ago. It was then, Jennifer recalls, how she was advised that she “couldn’t do sawmill work from the house.”
Several aches and pains later, the rest is history for these Bedford Countians. Up until the last few years, Jennifer had no housekeeper; she did all that was expected of her. “I was blessed to be able to raise them . . . do the bookwork.”
Sam said she got dinner on the table. They managed to get their kids to basketball and to music lessons. Dad Sam had the chance to serve in the past as a school board member.
The Trotts said they are thankful to have had the self-employment opportunity, despite the obvious stressors that come from being “the boss.” He mentions price and product fluctuations over decades as one constant stressor.
Another: the dreaded laminate flooring market. But Sam says thankfully, wood flooring is once again making a comeback.
It’s just a constant concern in the lumber business, they both agree.
On self-employment
The Bedford County couple also agree that logging and working the sawmill is certainly dirty work, in more ways than one. They’ve found that few people chose it, particularly this generation.
Perhaps another reason to close up shop?
Sam has been told that the sawmill buyers aren’t planning to have an ongoing lumber operation. A liquidator purchased the equipment. “Actually, we sold part of it . . . sawmill for him and lumber for him.”
Buyers, by appointment only, have been accepted for the remainder of their mulch, slab wood and random width lumber. Jennifer is working to close out soon.
It’s the Trott Lumber Inc. customers, of course, they’ll miss the most.
“We want to extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all customers and support we have had throughout the years from this great community,” said Jennifer. “In the meantime, the logging crew will continue operations throughout the area.”