Mark Smith, restoration contractor, describes the operation of the Wolf Creek Grist Mill to visitors during a recent open house at this Mohican State Park attraction. An exterior view of the mill is shown lower right.
A RESTORED SLICE OF AMERICANA--
The reborn Wolf Creek Grist Mill stands proudly, once again, this time on the bank of a small creek called Pine Run down there on SR 3 just south of Loudonville.
It snuggles against a high bluff to the east, its water wheel turning in the flow from a flume which extends somewhat magically from the hill side.
Inside the mill, the wheel’s axel turns an ancient and giant pit wheel gear (today, commonly known as a pinion) which engages its perpendicular mate and slowly spins the stone grist wheel which, when it was built in 1831, was a labor saving marvel as our country tip-toed into the machine age.
Yet, this mill was the mechanical progeny of similar contrivances known to recorded hi
story as far back as 63 BC in Europe.
Various grains could be fed into the slowly spinning, round stone wheels where they would be ground into essential, basic food like flour or corn meal for examples. A valve-like gadget known as a sluice was used to divert the flow of the water, thus turning the huge, 3-storey machine on and off.
Local folks dispute the original location of this mill but it was moved to the current site in 1970 where restoration seriously faltered until it began anew in 2000 when restoration contractor Smith of Norwalk formed a non-profit corporation to rescue this marvel from a bygone era.
Today, the mill is accessed by a modern pedestrian bridge of period design. Inside, the patina of aged timbers is highlighted by dim reflections of replica lantern light common to colonial times.
The restored mill is the jeweled centerpiece of what Smith envisions to grow into a collection of restored historical structures “...in order to preserve a vanishing part of our heritage....”
Already, the mill has been joined by a companion structure; a dismantled, moved, re-built and restored two storey cabin of the same historical age. Current projects also include the rebuilding and restoration of six more log buildings from the 1800s.
Plans also include the rebuilding of a sawmill, blacksmith shop and barn from the colonial period.
Smith estimates the capital costs of the project to-date are approaching $500,000 with annual operating expenses in the vicinity of $60,000. A private, non-profit local corporation affiliated with the Farmers Bank of Loudonville administers the project.
It is open for visitors Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5, spring to fall, when volunteers are available. Scheduled events include a Wine at the Mill Festival June 28th and an Oktoberfest October 11th.
Stop by and take a peek. You’ll enjoy your visit. I certainly did.
More here: http://www.wolfcreekmill.org/
Historical re-enactors Sally Rickel and Jack Heichel, Mansfield, members of the Malabar Spinning and Weaving Guild, provided colonial ambiance in the restored cabin at the grist mill during the recent Mohican Wildlife Weekend celebration.
A RESTORED SLICE OF AMERICANA--
The reborn Wolf Creek Grist Mill stands proudly, once again, this time on the bank of a small creek called Pine Run down there on SR 3 just south of Loudonville.
It snuggles against a high bluff to the east, its water wheel turning in the flow from a flume which extends somewhat magically from the hill side.
Inside the mill, the wheel’s axel turns an ancient and giant pit wheel gear (today, commonly known as a pinion) which engages its perpendicular mate and slowly spins the stone grist wheel which, when it was built in 1831, was a labor saving marvel as our country tip-toed into the machine age.
Yet, this mill was the mechanical progeny of similar contrivances known to recorded hi
story as far back as 63 BC in Europe.Various grains could be fed into the slowly spinning, round stone wheels where they would be ground into essential, basic food like flour or corn meal for examples. A valve-like gadget known as a sluice was used to divert the flow of the water, thus turning the huge, 3-storey machine on and off.
Local folks dispute the original location of this mill but it was moved to the current site in 1970 where restoration seriously faltered until it began anew in 2000 when restoration contractor Smith of Norwalk formed a non-profit corporation to rescue this marvel from a bygone era.
Today, the mill is accessed by a modern pedestrian bridge of period design. Inside, the patina of aged timbers is highlighted by dim reflections of replica lantern light common to colonial times.
The restored mill is the jeweled centerpiece of what Smith envisions to grow into a collection of restored historical structures “...in order to preserve a vanishing part of our heritage....”
Already, the mill has been joined by a companion structure; a dismantled, moved, re-built and restored two storey cabin of the same historical age. Current projects also include the rebuilding and restoration of six more log buildings from the 1800s.
Plans also include the rebuilding of a sawmill, blacksmith shop and barn from the colonial period.
Smith estimates the capital costs of the project to-date are approaching $500,000 with annual operating expenses in the vicinity of $60,000. A private, non-profit local corporation affiliated with the Farmers Bank of Loudonville administers the project.
It is open for visitors Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5, spring to fall, when volunteers are available. Scheduled events include a Wine at the Mill Festival June 28th and an Oktoberfest October 11th.
Stop by and take a peek. You’ll enjoy your visit. I certainly did.
More here: http://www.wolfcreekmill.org/
Historical re-enactors Sally Rickel and Jack Heichel, Mansfield, members of the Malabar Spinning and Weaving Guild, provided colonial ambiance in the restored cabin at the grist mill during the recent Mohican Wildlife Weekend celebration.
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