On our anniversary, we came upon this mill which was opened for tours. I wanted the kids to see it so we returned the following week-end for their Mill Heritage Day. The fall weather was gorgeous and this was a beautiful place for picture taking.
Fresh cider was being pressed.
According to the Burwell-Morgan Mill brochure, This mill dates back to 1785 and was such a thriving business that an entire community prospered around it. Nathaniel Burwell (pronounced Burl), who graduated from William and Mary with honors in Mathematics in 1774, designed and built this Mill with the help of Daniel Morgan, of Revolutionary War fame. It was so successful, that the flour it produced was sold in Alexandria, Va, and the Tidewater of Virginia. From there, it was shipped to the West Indies!
The indoor waterwheel which is 20 feet in diameter is one of only a handful of indoor wheels in the country. The seeds of 9 grains were actually being milled while we were there. It was amazing how fast the wheel was going around.
The "run" or stream that supplies the water to the mill comes from three springs that originate about a mile from it. This little pool was the site of "pumpkin racing" for the kids.
The pumpkins marked with numbers came over this waterfall, the first one over being the winner.
John was able to volunteer by putting stickers on brown paper bags full of flour ground that day. They gave him this cute bagful for helping out.
It is a very scenic spot with the water, trees and wooden bridges.
The water that powers the wheel comes out of the building through this channel. I have no idea how they control the water to prevent serious flooding but to have it survive so long, I guess they do.
These gears are so impressive. It is mind boggling to think about the precise measurements and the timing involved. I was awed by how this design gives Glory to God, our Creator and filled with respect for the human minds with the knowledge, will and perseverance it must have taken to build this mill so well.
This machine is called a corn sheller.
We happened upon some friends of ours while there and enjoyed watching their boys receive a demonstration on how it works. Husked corn is put down the shoot while one turns the wheel by hand.
Not two seconds later, the empty corn cobs came out of one section, and the corn kernels, ready for grinding, came out another.
The second floor of the mill was added on after the Civil War to accommodate the increased flour production. This space is currently used as an art gallery with frequently rotating local art work exhibited for sale.
This table had old fashioned cooking ingredients and implements on it.
It was a pleasure for us to visit this impressive mill while in operation on such a gorgeous fall day.
