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