Hello,

 No, I haven't forgotten I have a blog, I just haven't been out shooting any mills lately. I have however been shooting people. I was a little apprehensive about it, at first, but have been fortunate enough to do some photo shoots with friends and and family. I really enjoyed doing my first photo shoot, and I'm liking it more and more after every one. I was really nervous. But after that, I was hooked!! And so, my photography will be branching out and I will be trying to shoot as many people as I can get in front of my camera lens. So, sit back, and watch as I take this journey. who knows. maybe I'll be shooting you!!

Thanks for watching,
   Jeff

Brocks Mill Trenton NC

 Here's another mill from eastern NC. This one is called Brocks Mill, and it's located in Trenton NC. Just off highway 58. It was built in 1700!!! I don't know much about it though. It looks like it's foundation was rebuilt. We drive by this mill every time we go to the beach, and I finally took the time to take a few pictures.
 So, my quest for more mills in Eastern NC continues!!

Thanks for the visit
Jeff

Yates Grist Mill Transmission

  Hello Everybody,

 How many of us can say we have seen the gears that drive the grist mill? Last weekend, I got the opportunity to do just that. Historic Yates Mill had a open house/tour, and I got to see the inside of the mill. Nestled in the belly of this mill is the "transmission" as I call it. You can see the gears attached to the water wheel in the left side of of this picture. The belt is driving a feeder system for the grinders. The main "drive" for the granite grinding wheel, for grinding corn, is in the foreground right of this picture. In the rear, you can see another "drive,"it has a wooden shaft for grinding wheat and barley. That stone is made of quartz! They had to import that stone from France. And, it was the only place you could get them! They also ran a sewing machine, a corn schucker machine. And, they also milled lumber here. All from this "transmission!"
I also learned that a "Miller"as he was called, wasn't paid in cash, he was paid by taking a portion of grain milled. For every bushel he milled, he would take a peck. Or, one eighth of a bushel. There are still laws on the books for this type of work.
Picking up pecans in Oklahoma, we would pick on the "half shell". Instead of paying the land owner cash, you would give him half of the pecans you picked up! So, I guess milling was the same way.
But it still amazes me, when I look at this picture, this is technology from 250 years ago!! With everybody looking for ways of "going green," why aren'y these mills aren't running 24 hours a day!
I do know of some mills in my area that are still producing products that can be found in my local grocery store. One even has a generator attached to it that can produce it's own backup electricity if it loses main power. I will eventually get there to take some pictures of it for you.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this picture of the past.

Thanks for visiting and reading my post,
Jeff

Yates Mill Open House

Whoa, what's going on here? Not only two blog posts in one weekend, but multiple pictures too? I just couldn't decide which ones to put on here today. It was open house at the mill today. The mill was open to the public, for a $5 fee. The mill wheel would turn, and grind corn. There were volunteers dressed in period costumes showing you around. All in all it was a beautiful day. I just wish I didn't have to spend it alone. My wife was out of town. I had scheduled a mill tour of my own, but had to postpone it. I took lots of pictures. Got to see the mill in action, and learned alot! So, that's it for today! Thanks for looking.

Jeff

Hello Everyone,

 Today, I went back to revisit Laurel Mill. I wanted to be there at sunrise. And, I needed to recharge with some stress management after a long work week. It is so quiet here save for the water running over the dam. I could just sit on this rock and listen to the water for hours. I just needed a cane pole. The fog lifting off the water was an extra bonus this morning. Can't you just picture yourself sitting here, listening to the water going over the dam??
Well, thanks for looking. And we'll see you next time.
Jeff

Antique Ice House

Hello Everyone,

 No new grist mill photos to post, yet! Although a friend sent me a link to a mill north of Greensboro NC. So I was digging around in the old photos I have taken, and came across this picture. It's an old ice house in downtown Spring Hope NC. It's so small, the size of a lawnmower shed, that you would drive by and never notice it. My wife doesn't even know where this is at, even though we have walked by it on a few occasions. I think it must have been a place where they would drop off ice to be picked up by the towns people. I'm just guessing. All ice houses I've ever seen have been huge. I hope to get some more grist mill photos up soon, so keep in touch.
Thanks for looking at my Blog

 Jeff

Lifegaurd Station

Hello Everybody,

 Here's a shot of the Oregon Inlet Livesaving station. Located just over the Bodie Island bridge on the Outerbanks of North Carolina. I can just picture the ghosts of the lifegaurds in the tower. At the time this photo was taken, it just sat in disrepair, and acting as a sand dune. I wondered why would the state just let this sit and get buried? This is such a unique piece of history. the building in the back, that is just about buried, is a more modern quarters.
I drove by this last year and didn't recognize it. The state went in, dug it out, and restored it. I developed this in black and white with some grain to make it look old.
Hope you liked this, and will continue to come back.

Jeff

Hello, Everybody.

 Well, here is another shot of Webbs Mill in Spring Hope, NC. I can't wait 'till the trees turn green again, so I can go back and get some more shots of this mill. After all, it is only five minutes from my house! I am also waiting 'till they get this mill operating again. That should be a sight to see. For now, they keep the gates open, so no water falls over the spill way.You can see the water flowing thru those in the picture. And, if they ever close them again, I'll have a place to go fishing! When closed, it makes a pretty good sized pond behind the spillway.                                                                           Until next time,
        Jeff

State Fairgrounds Mill

Hello Everyone!

 Well , heres something different! A double picture post. Couldn't decide which one to post, so I posted both. As The title says, this is the mill at the NC State Fairgrounds mill at the Heritage Village. It is a working mill during the State Fair. Well I'm out of room. So I hope you liked these.
Jeff

Perrys Mill. Bunn NC

Hello,

 Today my wife and I took a drive to visit Perrys Mill, ouside Bunn NC. This is all that remains of the mill after volunteers rebuilt what was left after the flood from hurricane Floyd took the old mill totally off its foundation, and took it down river. They dragged back what they could find, and built what you see here. I'll have to post an old photo I took just before the hurricane hit. The previous mill is also a rebuild of the original mill that was built in the 1700's! The previous mill was also a favorite spot for weddings and other get togethers. The mill pond is more like a small lake with a boat ramp. I think it still costs $1 a day to go fishing. I don't know if Mr. Perry is still alive, but I will always cherish the conversations we had as he would take me around the mill and tell me of it's history. His face would just glow as he talked about his old family heirloom.

Until next time,
Jeff

Posted!

Hi Everybody,

 Well, as you can see from the heading, this mill is located on posted property. You can see it from the road. So, it doesn't have a name or a location like the others, to protect the innocent! I went in to get a few shots, and I wasn't there 10 minutes, when I decided that I had wore out my welcome and started walking towards my truck, when a county sherriff deputy met me half way there. He asked me how I was, and what I was doing there. I told him I was just there to take a few pictures and would be on my way. He said "this sure is a pretty spot, we have had problems with hunters and fisherman. But your ok, I come here alot myself!" I breathed a sigh of relief!!
There was a phone number on the posted sign. I called, and spoke to the land owner and I was denied permission to go on the property just take pictures. Oh well, this mill will just continue to rot from neglect and fall into the pond like so many others have in this area. I can't help but wonder why we are denied access to places like this. But then there are so many people who would just go on the property and show no respect for the land or it's contents, or the owner. I am not bitter with the owner, like the deputy said, "we have had so many problems with hunters and fisherman" and any one else. It's people like that, that I am bitter with! They make it hard for people like me to gain the trust of the landowner to give me permission to be there.
I think these mills should get some kind of recognition as landmarks in our state. I also wonder if the landowners could apply to the National Register of Historic Places, or something like that, to get a grant to help restore these pieces of history! But then, they would have to allow me access to their property.
Not really sure if this is a Grist Mill, or what kind of mill this was. I developed this pic this way so you could see the rusting spokes of what is left of the wheel. And if you look under the mill you can see some of the complex pulley system it has to drive the mill.
So next time you are on a back road, keep your eyes out for a gem like this. I may post a few other pic's of this mill at a later date.

Thanks for visiting,
Jeff

Laurel Mill, Louisburg NC

 Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
 Here's another mill for you to enjoy! This one is named Laurel Mill, located outside of Louisburg NC. I think it is my favorite one in the series of mills I plan to shoot and add here. If you haven't noticed, I  photographed this one in HDR. which means High Dynamic Range. If you saw the last batman movie, that whole movie was shot in HDR. In simple terms, it means you take three exposures and blend them together. I will probably do the rest of the mills in this format.
This is such a beautiful place. The pond behind the mill really pretty too. Looks like it could be a nice fishing spot . So quiet, just drop a worm in the water, and listen to the water run over the spill way! No need for a iPod. Maybe I should make a long recording for when I go to sleep!I have had some intrest in other photographer friends wanting me to do a workshop/tour of the mills in my area. We'll see how that goes. It would be fun. Just don't know which ones to go too. I can think of 9 so far! Bring your lunch!
Well, hope you like this,and keep checking back.
Thanks for looking!
Jeff

Welcome

Hello,

 Welcome to the first installment of my new blogg! this has been a work in progress, and will continue to be. I have been wondering how I should kick this off. Then, the other night, my
 wifes sister asked for a copy of this picture for her living room and I thought that this would be a good start. I want to do a series called Grist Mills, and I'll kick it off with this one.
This is Webbs Mill. It is located in Spring Hope NC. It was an active mill until the flood of '99 rendered it inoperable. The water was up past the second story windows! This is a more modern mill, in that it uses turnstiles to power the mill, instead of T traditional wheel, that we are used to seeing. the owner is in the process of restoring the mill, and will be back in business soon.
Well that is it for now, I hope you will come back soon, and thanks for visiting.

Jeff