Dillard Mill State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dillard Mill State Historic Site |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Dillard Mill State Historic Site
Location in Missouri
Dillard Mill State Historic Site
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Crawford, Missouri, United States |
| Area | 131.77 acres (53.33 ha) |
| Elevation | 906 ft (276 m) |
| Established | 1977 |
| Governing body | Missouri Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Dillard Mill State Historic Site |
|
Dillard Mill Historic District
|
|
The mill's still working
Barnard's Horizontal Bran Duster |
|
| Location | 142 Dillard Mill Rd., near Davisville, Missouri |
| Area | 58 acres (23 ha) |
| Built by | Adams, Jacob; Mischke, Emil; Klemme, Lester |
| Architectural style | I-house, Bungalow |
| NRHP reference No. | 14001157 |
| Added to NRHP | January 14, 2015 |
The Dillard Mill State Historic Site is a special place in Crawford County, Missouri. It protects an old mill that uses water power to grind grain. This historic site covers about 132 acres. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has managed it as a state historic site since 1975, thanks to an agreement with the L-A-D Foundation. In 2015, Dillard Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as an important historical landmark.
Contents
What is Dillard Mill?
Dillard Mill is a historic gristmill, which is a building where grain is ground into flour or meal. This mill uses the power of water from Huzzah Creek to turn its machinery. It's a great example of how people used natural resources to do work a long time ago.
A Look Back: The Mill's History
The story of Dillard Mill goes back many years, with different mills standing on the same spot.
The First Mill: Wisdom Mill
In 1853, a man named Francis Wisdom built the very first mill on Huzzah Creek. It became known as the Wisdom Mill. This mill helped local farmers turn their crops into food. Sadly, the Wisdom Mill was destroyed by a fire in 1895.
The New Mill: Mische Mill
After the fire, the land changed owners. In 1908, a new mill was built. This one was called the Mische Mill. It was more modern than the old one. Instead of a big waterwheel, it used an underwater turbine. A turbine is like a powerful fan that spins when water flows through it. The owners even changed the creek's path and the nearby bluff to make the mill work better. The Mische Mill operated for many years, until 1956.
Becoming Dillard Mill State Historic Site
In 1975, the state of Missouri took over the management of the property. That's when the mill was renamed Dillard Mill. It was officially opened as a state historic site in 1977. Workers then spent time restoring the mill, making sure it could still work. The restoration was finished in 1980. Today, you can visit Dillard Mill and see how these amazing machines once worked!
