Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022 - 66

TIM WEBB
PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY GUILE
MILL TALK
this destination has the largest collection
of millstones in the country: 100 of them,
hand-chiseled, displayed along the paved
walkway. Come on weekends to see the
process at this 900-acre city park.
Virginia: Wade's Mill
GABRIEL PENT
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
McHargue's Mill, Kentucky, is home to a
collection of 100 hand-chiseled millstones.
Cook's Old Mill, West Virginia, is developing
spaces for artisans to keep old crafts and
practices alive and in use.
McCormick Farm Grist Mill, Virginia, was built
in the late 1700s by the grandfather of grain
reaper inventor Cyrus McCormick.
through Appalachian history. A mountain
community's first post office; iron
forges; sawmills; secret looms for knitting
Union clothing; floods; electricity in
1921; local red clay pottery; moonshine;
and, restaurant fare made from freshly
ground grains. History lives here where
millers filled, weighed and tied some
125,000 bags of product last year...by
hand. old-mill.com
Kentucky: McHargue's Mill
It's all about the millstones at this 1939
Civilian Conservation
Corps
erected
structure-and the yellow and white cornmeal
ground at this working watermill.
The 2,000-pound working stone came
over the Wilderness Road in 1805. And,
other than the Smithsonian Institution,
66 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
West Virginia: Cook's Old Mill
Built in 1858 on the site of a much earlier
grist mill, this large four-story structure
with two " run of grindstones, " conveyors,
elevators, hoppers and more once proTraditions
return to the state's oldest operating
commercial grist mill - weddings!
" Summertime weekends [once] featured
several weddings in a row...and we're
bringing back these wonderful [events] to
the mill. " Built in 1750, the mill offers visitors
views of three floors of history; and,
if you're first in line, you get to help start
the 21-foot overshot iron wheel. Grains
and products at this mill are 100% natural
and preservative-free. wadesmill.com
McCormick Farm Grist Mill
This mill was built in the late 1700s by the
grandfather of Cyrus McCormick, famous
for advancing crop harvesting with the
mechanical grain reaper. Located on this
early self-sufficient farmstead (now part
of Virginia Tech), this classic mill uses a
complex and ingenious system. " Wheat is
ground between the upper and stationary
nether stone; carried to the third floor by
elevator cups; and, passes through bolting
cloth, which separates germ from bran.
All powered by a single wheel. "
arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/shenandoah-valley
The language of milling remains
with us today.
f Wait your " turn "
f It's the same old grind
f Milling around
f Run of the mill
f Put through the mill
f Keep your nose to the
grindstone
f And many more... -AM
duced " a large volume of flour and feed. "
Late 19th century conversions to a double
turbine system and roller mills are still in
use today. This family-owned property is
developing woodworking, blacksmithing
and weaving spaces for artisans interested
in creating goods using traditional " technology
of 100 years ago. "
cooksoldmill.com
Glade Creek Grist Mill
The youth of this structure, " built " in
1976, belies its age. Assembled at Babcock
State Park as a tribute, this working grist
mill brought back to life materials from
much, much older closed mills. Set into
the landscape of a rushing stream, ancient
boulders and surrounding forests,
this historically accurate replica is now
a famous photography destination. And,
there's fresh yellow cornmeal spring
through fall!
wvstateparks.com/glade-creek-grist-millbabcock
http://www.wadesmill.com http://www.cooksoldmill.com http://www.old-mill.com http://arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/shenandoah-valley http://www.wvstateparks.com/glade-creek-grist-mill-babcock http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022

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