HomeSPOOM 2025 Old Mill Photo Contest Stories
2025 SPOOM Old Mill Photo Contest Story Time
Welcome to the 2025
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
Hodgson Water Mill - Ozark County, Missouri
Submitted by: Ricahrd McGee
Hodgson Water Mill was built in 1897, the first of two mills to be built by Alva Hodgson in Ozark County, MO. The mills sits directly on top of Hodgson Mill Spring which emits 24 million gallons of water per day. Production ceased in 1976 when operations were moved to a modern facility. Euell Gibbons, known for promoting consumption of wild foods, filmed a Grape Nuts commercial here in 1974
Stony Brook Grist Mill - Stony Brook, New York
Submitted by: Claudia Powell
The Stony Brook Grist Mill (c.1751) remains standing after heavy flooding destroyed the road supporting the Stony Brook Mill Pond and dam. The collapse resulted in the pond completely draining, leaving behind a scene where all the wildlife—fish and turtles—had been washed away. This photograph shows the Stony Brook community members who gathered together to volunteer cleaning debris, deceased animals, fallen branches, and stumps from the storm.
Mingus Mill - North Carolina
Submitted by: Bob Joralemon
Mingus Mill just north of Cherokee, NC inside the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Peak fall colors highlight this iconic mill setting.
Moringstar Mill - Decew Falls, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
Submitted by: Carla Mackie
Morningstar Mill is currently undergoing a major restoration, including lime mortar repointing and the addition of ashlar ribboning.
George Washinton's Mill - Mount Vernon, Virgina
Submitted by: Peter Violette
We loved the fence and the tree just leafing out, but not enough to block the mill.
Diller Heishman's Mill - Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Submitted by: Judie Darr
Early morning photo of main drive shaft and pulley system. Circa 1900 for use with roller Mill
Heishman's Mill - Pennsylvania
Submitted by: Avery Morrow
View from across the Conodoguinet Creek to show the Mill, Mill dam, and the newly constructed portage and viewing platform.
Morgan's Mill - Wilford, Arkansas
Submitted by: Suzanne Chastain
Morgan’s Mill is on Spring R., near Martin’s Creek and the site of the Civil War battle of Morgan’s Mill on 8 February 1864.
Scribner's Mill - Maine
Submitted by: Martha Denison
Looking at the sash saw with a log on the carriage. The carry-in wheel is high in the ceiling which pulls the logs up into the brow. There is a beam on the brow waiting to be used for the south sill replacement.
Polk Mill - Polk, Ohio
Submitted by: Sophie Nieport
The risk going up the stairs are worth the reward! Big tall ceilings will make you feel welcome on this top floor. All ceilings were high in Polk mill to accommodate tall production equipment.
Spring Mill - Mitchell, Indiana
Submitted by: Tommy Wade
Photo of the new waterwheel installed this past year and spring. Thanks to all the workers and millwright that repaired and replaced the flume, main shaft, and waterwheel. We are back in business of grinding corn for our visitors.
Staley Saw mill - Bethel township, Ohio
Submitted by: Berni Vogel
Historic fully intact saw mill, typical of thousands that dotted the Ohio frontier landscape in the mid 1800s. Saw mills were the work horse of the water powered era. A township may have had one or two grist mills in that era, but as many as 15 to 20 saw mills. This saw mill is an incredible example of that era, located on a one of a kind private farm..
Murray's Mill - Catawba, North Carolina
Submitted by: Jennifer Marquaedt
Sunset over the edge of the Murray's Mill dam and millpond.
Sunrise Mill - Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
Submitted by: Kathryn Stoddard
The flooring has been removed and all of the parts and pieces have been tagged for disassembly.
Joel Hill Saw Mill - Equinunk, Pennsylvania
Submitted by: Thomas Kulesza
The sawmill located at Duck Harbor was built in1873 by William Holbert and JD Branning. Joel Hill purchased the mill in 1898 along with approximately 1500 hundred acres and a 205-acre lake now known as Duck Harbor Pond. (There is some evidence that Hill bought in 1878. I spent some time in the courthouse in Honesdale researching Deeds and was unable to establish a firm date, so generally I go with 1898.) The mill operated with a water wheel until 1903 when a catastrophic flood destroyed it and damaged the mill building. A few years later, a turbine was installed, purchased from the James Leffel Company in Ohio. The mill operated commercially until 1974. About this time, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Much of the lumber from the Hill mill was sent down the Delaware River on rafts to the cities of Easton, Allentown, and Philadelphia.
It was the wish of Joel Hill’s grandson, also a Joel, that the mill be donated to the Equinunk Historical Society, which took place in 1988. It took approximately 7 years to refurbish the idle mill and bring it back to life. EHS has been operating the mill for tours and demonstrations for the public and private groups since 1995.
Greg Quaglio
About five years ago, I began photographing the Joel Hill Sawmill. The more time I spent there the more I was intrigued with this historical sight. If only we could time travel back to 1873 to see the actual construction of the mill and to the late 1800s to see the actual operation of the mill. The work done by the Mill Rats, nickname of the dedicated workers, who continue to work on restoration is beyond belief. If a part is needed, they just make it.
When I take photographs of the mill it reminds me of our proud American Heritage.
Mill at Pemaquid Falls - Pemaquid, Maine
Submitted by: Edward Kitson
A view of the interior of the mill with winch shaft overhead, belt driven planer, last used in the 1970's, and hewn timbers with knees
Locke's Mill - Berryville, Virginia
Submitted by: Kaite Wais
The original French Buhr millstones at Locke's Mill in Berryville, Virginia, were sent from France in 1876 and assembled in Baltimore. From there, they journeyed by rail to Summit Point, West Virginia, and were hauled by horse-cart to the Shenandoah Valley. Centuries later, the chiseled grooves and weathered surface still speak to the craft and labor that shaped American milling.
Shank's Mill - Waynesboro, Pennsylvania
Submitted by: Charles Yeske
Tenant staying in upper story room in the mill renovated for boarding left a pencil written note on the wall warning of burglers trying to enter the mill and his resolve to go stay in the main house as a precaution.
Windmill - Erice, Sicily, Italy
Submitted by: Mark Borton
Windmill used to pump saltwater into evaoprating pans and to grind resulting salt crystals. I Mulini Resort, Erice, Sicily, Italy.
Edward's Mill - Point Lookout, Missouri
Submitted by: Mario Scalise
Edwards Mill at the College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, MO
Bowmansville Saw Mill - Bowmansville, Pennsylvania
Submitted by: Karen Peterson
An annual open house and demonstration of sawing trees into lumber.
Rodger's Mill - Maine
Submitted by: Dale Janssen
Front Porch and Spring in the evening sunlight. Rodger's Mill, Summer Shade, KY
Locke's Mill - Berryville, Virginia
Submitted by: Herb Crosby
Early sun filters through the first floor of Locke's Mill in Berryville, Virginia -- a quiet moment before a day of grinding.
Mitchell's Mill - Stone County, Arkansas
Submitted by: Richard McGee
Mitchell's Mill was built around 1900 by Steve Mitchell. He operated the mill until about 1928, after which the property was sold to the United States Forest Service following his death. The mill was torn down so that it could be rebuilt on the original site by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The project was halted due to the start of Word War II, at which time the CCC was disbanded. The incomplete structure has been standing unchanged for over 80 years.
Dillard Mill - Crawford County, Missouri
Submitted by: Richard McGee
Dillard Mill is one of the best-preserved examples of a historic mill in the Ozarks. Most of the original equipment remains in the building and is operational. Tours are provided by park staff. The Barnard's Horizontal Bran Duster features horse hair brushes
Falling Springs Mill - Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri
Submitted by: Tommy Wade
Falling Spring mill is situated on a pond, With the spring falling down a cliff directly behind the mill building. The present mill building was built in 1927.
Scribner's Mill - Harrison, Maine
Submitted by: Martha Denison
Looking at the sash saw with a log on the carriage. The carry-in wheel is high in the ceiling which pulls the logs up into the brow. There is a beam on the brow waiting to be used for the south sill replacement.
Polk Mill - Polk Ohio
Submitted by: Sophie Nieport
Craig Wiley was very generous in giving myself and 3 fellow Bear's Mill staff a tour of his mill. He is very proud of the mill and what improvements he has made.
Mill at Anselma - Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
Submitted by: Robert Coblenz
Worn Gear cogs Taken during the Spring 2025 SPOOM Mid-Atlantic conference
Lanterman's Mill - Youngstown, Ohio
Submitted by: Bernie, Vogel
One of the most scenic historic mills in Ohio. Fully restored operational mill, open to the public situated in the incredibly scenic Mill Park.
Locke's Mill - Berryville, Virginia
Submitted by: Karen, Peterson
This photo shows the many floodwater levels this tiny mill has miraculously endured since 1902.
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