How the Mill Works

If you walk on past the mill, and along side the flume, you’ll find a trail at the end of the flume.

Follow it up to Mingus Creek. There you’ll find a small dam that channels water into the millrace. The millrace is designed to channel water to the mill, and increase the waters speed as it slowly flows down hill. The millrace is lined with Hemlock boards.Close to the mill, the millrace channels water into an elevated flume. Built into the flume is a flume gate that regulates the water flow. Excess water is channeled to the side and the resulting waterfall is a popular photo spot. Next, the water flows through a “chunk rack”, that filters off any leaves, sticks or large debris. A small box here also catches any sand in the water to keep it from reaching the turbine and damaging it.At a height of 22 feet, the flume pours the water into the “penstock”, which is built right next to the mill. The penstock is a 4 foot square wooden shaft that is full of water from the flume. The penstock mains a constant 22 foot/pounds of water pressure. This water and water pressure is run into a metal pipe attached to the turbine housing, which contains the the metal turbine. The turbine has angled blades, causing the water to turn the turbine, which turns an attached metal rod that goes into the mill. The metal rod is used to turn the grinding stones, and also to power other equipment located on the third floor of the mill.Given how old it is, the design and construction are pretty amazing. The turbine generates 11 horsepower, a significant amount for back then.

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