Trout were plentiful in the Sawkill, as well as other smaller and bonier varieties of fish; in this 1952 photograph taken by Ada Sparer, we see artist E.J. Gold in bathing suit, fishing on the rocks of the lower Zena Falls, a feat not possible during Spring Flood.

The Mill was occupied as early as 1702, when Albert Rosa filed in Albany for a parcel of 300 acres of land called "Anguagekink", which is now known as "Zena", and which lay, according to the filed deed, "Northwardes from Kingestown uppon a certain creek call'd Saw Kill West of William Legg's new sawmill, and near ye High Mountains..." etc. which clearly refers to this property which became the Zena Mill, with its Sawmill, gristmill, and miller's cottage at the lower end of the pond.

This mill was undoubtedly the same mill that the Kingston Corporation tried to take from Johannes Hardenburgh, the owner of the mill in 1755, on the grounds that it was automatically included in their land-grant which supposedly extended all the way to the mountains.

The enormous Hardenburgh Patent was purchased from an Esopus Chief named Nanisonus, for 60 pounds sterling. Chief Nanisonus signed the deed with the sign of a tortoise.

Queen Anne granted the original 250-acre patent in 1708, with the proviso that she be sent annually the sum of 3 pounds sterling per year, payable on the Feast of Annunciation.