Sturgeon's Mill - Restoration Project

Sturgeon’s Mill Restoration Project is a non profit organization. The project is run by Harvey Henningsen President, Bob Sturgeon Vice President, Essie Doty Secretary / Treasurer, and board members Tom Schaeffer, Jay Meyer, Matt Bardella, Mark Sell, Bonnie Sallee and Wes Brubacher.

Considered one of the last great mills of its kind, this mill has survived since 1914. It was originally built in the 1880s on the Korbel property near the Russian River. It was passed to Mr. Michael Sugarman, of the hardware store on 4th Street in Santa Rosa, and later to Mr. Meeker, for whom Camp Meeker is named.

It was purchased from Meeker by Wade Sturgeon in 1913 and was dismantled and moved to Sturgeon’s Coleman Valley site where Sturgeon began his lumber business in 1914. The mill was moved again to its current site in Occidental in 1924 where it has since remained. In 1943 Wade’s son Ralph Sturgeon and his friend James Henningsen bought and ran the mill. Now, in an effort to preserve this wonderful piece of history, this restoration project has been born.

Our Mission Statement:


The Sturgeon's Mill Restoration Project is dedicated to restoring the historic steam powered lumber mill to its original condition of running on live steam, reuniting the original properties of Wade Sturgeon and restoring his "Woodland Gardens." We run the mill periodically for the general public on scheduled weekends and are available for students and special interest group tours at mutually agreeable times as a Working Museum.

The Sawmill, its artifacts, rolling stock, the mill office & its collection of paperwork of local ranchers and customers from 1914-1960's offers a rare personal look at local history of those years. The mill serves a an anchor to our past; a rare glimpse for the industrial revolution.