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The 1805 mill stood
the ravages of time through all the years. In 1888 farmers had a
raising day. They turned out with long wooden poles that were used
reach the lumber up for the building of the third floor. When
finished, before the milling machines were added, a gala celebration
was held.
The early
owners of the mill were Daniel Decker. and Abram and Isaac Owens.
Isaac Owens sold the mill to Nathaniel Townsend who built the 1805
mill.
Benjamin Fuller purchased the mill in 1867. Heoperated the mill
until 1887 when it was sold at a sheriff's sale to Captain Bailey,
the great-grandson of Stephen Bailey.
Daniel Bailey
remodeled the mill in 1887 with the latest, most modern grain
milling machines at a cost of $30,000. |
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This was an
unbelievable sum in that day. In fact, his wife took him to task for
doing so.
The millers who ran the mill for Captain Bailey were Mr. Fuller, Mr.
Townsend, John Smith, and Mr. Wright. A second John Smith worked at
the mill (not related to the previous John Smith) and was asked to
run the mill when Mr. Wright became disabled.
The
burr stones used at the mill were imported from France and were
shipped in a circular wooden box. Turbines replaced the water wheel
in 1887, though they did not prove successful.
The old water wheel
was broken up for metal and sold to the government during World War
I.
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