HomeSPOOM 2021/22 Old Mill Photo Contest Stories

2021 / 2022 SPOOM Old Mill Photo Contest Story Time

Welcome to the 2021 / 2022
SPOOM Online Photo Contest Story Time.

As part of the photo contest we asked for stories about the photos. Here is a selection of some of those stories. Some tell the history of the mill while others tell of a more personal encounter.

Click on the photo to enlarge

Washburb MIll - Ivoryton, Connecticut
Submitted by: George Washburn, Jr.

This is a snapshot of the 14 foot Fitz waterwheel restoration prior to enclosing inside a building

Dellengers's Mill - Bakersville, North Carolina
Submitted by: Lewis Rose

Dellenger's Grist Mill in the mountains of North Carolina. Still operated by the Dellenger family. Meal can be purchased there if you are interested in authentic corn meal.

Dellengers's Mill - Bakersville, North Carolina
Submitted by: Lewis Rose

I had set out in the car with my wife to find an old abandoned mill, following the directions from a SPOOM mill list, which said to follow Buckner Road to the Little River. Little River turned out to be only a River by name; it was just a tiny trickle, no more than a creek. On a rise of land, just past Little River, was the local church, so we pulled in. I saw a cleared powerline swath through the trees from the parking area, which I thought may allow me a path back to Little River. I followed the power line back to where it overlooked the old mill pond, and from the high ground, I could see the wary prey of my search through the trees, Swift’s Mill (VA-054-002)!

Leonard's Mill - Bradley Maine
Submitted by: Herb Crosby

Water-powered sawmill and covered bridge in winter with a 1928 Lombard dump truck. This amazing tracked vehicle runs great in snow.

Callu Mill- Lula, Georgia
Submitted by: Ken Kent

Night Lights on Callus Mill.

Highland-Rohrer Mill - Paradise, Pennsylvania
Submitted by: Donald Kautz

The Highland-Rohrer Mill was built in 1852. The structure on the left side of the photo is a gear box that transferred power from the mill to the barn. A cable ran from the mill to this gear box, then another cable ran at right angles up to the barn where it could be used to run threshing equipment.

Sergeant Alvin York Mill - Pall Mall, Tennessee
Submitted by: David Jackson

Non operational grist mill located and maintained by the State of Tennessee in the Alvin C York State Historic Park.

Woodson's Mill - Beaverdam, Virginia
Submitted by: Dr. King David

The three-story Woodson’s Mill is located on the Little River in Beaverdam Virginia. Although the exact date of its origin is unknown, it is believed the mill, house, and dam were constructed around 1820. The mill had a succession of proud owners in its 100 years of life up through the 1970s. The Woodson family purchased and operated the mill from the late 1890s until its closure and sale in the 1970s. For the last half century, the mill sat idle and suffered major deterioration while giving the appearance of succumbing to the toils of age, storms, and neglect. The miller’s home is within a stone’s throw and was once the site of the local post office and a well visited tavern. Restoration and preservation of the Woodson’s mill started anew in 2017. We stabilized the underlying structure, replaced 90% of the siding, and painted the roof a bright red in homage to its 100-year anniversary and as a stark reminder of its bright future.

Mabry Mill - Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia
Submitted by: Dale Cook

This photo was taken on Easter Sunday, 2019. The mill had not yet opened to the public for the 2019 season. A Hoya Sepia B filter was used to warm the cold gray of the weathered wood back to a more pleasing brown. The only post processing was some reduction in brightness and correction of the blown-out sunlit area at the lower right. Pentax K-70, Pentax-DA 18-270mm at 48mm, f9, ISO 5000, 1/160 sec.

Carroll-Richardson Mill - Meridian, Mississippi
Submitted by: Ken Boyd

Carroll-Richardson Gristmill, sometimes called Dunn's Falls Mill, is set along the spectacular 65-foot Dunn's Falls just above the Chunky River. In addition to serving as a gristmill, the mill also produced Stetson Hats! The mill is located in a popular park just south of Meridian, Mississippi.

Bear's Mill - Greenville, Ohio
Submitted by: Sophie Nieport

After completing a 2 month concrete renovation project, we were rejoicing the fact that our turbines were kept clean and safe.

Valatie Hydro Electric Plant - Valatie, New York
Submitted by: Brian Plumb

First Snowfall on the Beaver Cotton Mill Overlook The mill building in the rear is a contemporary structure housing a small, out-of-service, hydroelectric plant. The new owner hopes to restart the plant and turn it into an EV charging center. The site was formerly home to the Valatie Cotton Mill & Foundry (c.1834-1946). The falls in the foreground are known as the Beaver Cotton Mill Falls (on Kinderhook Creek). Harry Houdini filmed scenes of his last movie, "Haldane of the Secret Service" here in 1921. At its peak in the mid1800s, Valatie was home to at least nine different cotton mills.

Stony Brook Grist Mill - Stony Brook, New York
Submitted by: Gloria Rocchio

The Stony Brook Grist Mill, Long Island’s most completely equipped working mill, is listed on the National and New York State Register of Historic Places. The Stony Brook Grist Mill has been a community structure of the Three Village area for over 300 years.

Slarrow Sawmill - North Leverett, Massachusetts
Submitted by: Kathryn Stoddard

North Leverett's historic sawmill on a sunny day in autumn.

Manor Mill - Monkton, Maryland
Submitted by: Willy Palmer

This picture shows a barn that is attached to the original Manor Mill. It's interesting because it shows the new wood which are repairs that have been made to protect open grain and shore up some of the openings.

Indian Mill - Upper Sandusky, Ohio
Submitted by: James Snodgrass

A group of Model T's Visited the mill while out on a Sunday Cruise.

Locke's Mill - Berryville, Virginia
Submitted by: Harry Lewis

On June 14, 2018 the Shenandoah River crested 16.52' above its average, leaving the road to Locke's Mill and the first floor of the mill submerged. The highest recorded flood peak was 34.8' in 1942, reaching the base of the millstones.

Stratton Flour Mill - Flushing, Ohio
Submitted by: Donna Franz

This photo shows off the special colors in the sandstone that was used for exterior walls of mill. The stone was dug out of a new tunnel being built for railroad going through town. You can also see the design the builders used around windows and doors. The person on front stoop is one of Charles Stratton's (builder/miller) great grandchildren

The "ASTRA" Museum of the Traditional Folk Civilization - Transylvania
Submitted by: Mario Scalise

Floating Mill The "ASTRA" Museum of the Traditional Folk Civilization Transylvania, Sibiu, Romania

Tyro Mill - Nelson County, Virginia
Submitted by: Catherine Walls

In memory of Mack Leslie Walls,1950-2020, who made all things possible. A special thanks to Al Anderson and Timber Works of Interest, who helped us along the way.

Castle Valley Mill - Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Submitted by: Mark Fischer

Walking back to the mill after a long day of milling the sun was just setting as the lights in the mill windows glowed softly and the sky was painted with beautiful purple and oranges that seems to wrap around the mill.

Burwell-Morgan Mill - Millwood, Virginia
Submitted by: Peter Violette

My wife and I had set out on a family history research trip that took us into the hills of Pennsylvania. Our research had caused me to seek out early grist mills, and I had located one we could stop at on our way back home; the Burwell Morgan Mill in Clarke County, Virginia. The day we arrived, the mill was in operation, and people were walking throughout and conversing with the many docents on hand. I was enamored with watching the wooden water wheel and all the gears turning and spinning. This movement caused them to be blurred in the photo, but that indicates that they were in motion. The white lard, which the millers use as a lubricant, can also be seen.

Leonard's MIll - Bradley, Maine
Submitted by: Herb Crosby

The large wooden gear is connected to an overshot waterwheel turning at 10 rpm. The other wooden gears increase the sash saw speed to 37 strokes per minute. These gears have quite a bit of vibration when running.

Hagood Mill - Pickens, South Carolina
Submitted by: Reed Severance

My son Ethan and I were cleaning the mill after running the previous day. Blocking the handle and spinning the stone to let its momentum raise the bale, Ethan does that necessary work which usually goes unseen. A mill is a working system that requires tending. There is strength, grace, and love in this tending. This is my feeble attempt to capture it in an image.

Kymulga Grist Mill - Childersburg, Alabama
Submitted by: Ken Boyd

Kymulga Grist Mill was historically a large commercial wheat and corn gristmill that dates to the 1860s. Two of the five run of millstones are shown in this image. The mill is located along the second oldest railroad line in Alabama. The railroad was built to deliver grain to the mill, which could grind a million bushels of corn in a year as recently as World War II! Today, the mill still grinds corn for demonstrations and is located in a very popular park with a covered bridge, walking trails and other attractions. The mill is the site of many weddings, school events, business meetings and other activities including weekly seasonal fish fries! Trains sometimes stop for the evening fish fries and treat children to tours of the locomotives!

Kymulga Grist Mill - Childersburg, Alabama
Submitted by: Tommy Wade

The second floor of the Kymulga Grist Mill shows the belts, gears, bolter, and sifter machinery. Confederate Army Captain Forney built the mill in 1864, and it is one of only a few that survived the Civil War. The City of Childersburg, AL acquired the Kymulga Grist Mill and Park in June 2011.

The Old Schwamb Mill - Arlington, Massachusetts
Submitted by: Jennifer White

Woodturner David Graf turns an oval wood frame using and elliptical lathe. The Old Schwamb Mill has been manufacturing elliptical (oval) picture frames since 1864 using special face lathes with an ingenious mechanism for moving workpieces side to side during rotation. The picture shows woodturner making an oval frame on a flat belt powered lathe. The Mill is ten miles west of Boston, and the site has been occupied by a mill since shortly after Boston was settled in 1630. The Schwamb Mill operates as a museum, but fine custom-made oval frames are available for sale. Visit oldschwambmill.org for further details.

Stover-Myers Mill - Pipersville, Pennsylvania
Submitted by: Charles Yeske

A young visitor was fascinated by the whole milling process and was especially pleased to pose for this memorable picture which was featured in a local newspaper. Her mother granted unconditional use of the image to support "milling's history" in any venue of the photographer's chosing.

Slarrow Sawmill - Leverett, Massachusetts
Submitted by: Susan Mareneck

During a tour of the Slarrow Sawmill io North Leverett MA, Dennis Picard, guide, talked to visitors about the well-worn sawblade. It was used in an earlier period at the Slarrow Mill, which dates from before the American Revolution, originally owned by Capt. Joseph Slarrow.

Stratton Flour Mill - Flushing Ohio
Submitted by: Donna Franz

This is the main engine that ran the whole mill and all of its machines. There were other engines used during the mills operation (Steam engine was first and electric and gas were also used at one time). The Diesel engine was the last one installed for use.

Bahrs Mill - Boyertown, Pennsylvania
Submitted by: Karen Peterson

Open House event at Bahrs Mill.