Easton Roller Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Easton Roller Mill
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Easton Roller Mill, 1974
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 Location in West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Near Easton Hill on County Route 119/17, near Morgantown, West Virginia |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1894 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002806 |
| Added to NRHP | December 19, 1978 |
The Easton Roller Mill is a historic building located near Morgantown, West Virginia. It was once a sawmill, which cuts wood, and a grist mill, which grinds grain. This mill is a great example of how people used to make flour and animal feed a long time ago. It's an important part of history in Monongalia County, West Virginia.
Contents
The Mill's Story
Building and Early Owners
Work on the Easton Roller Mill began in 1864 and finished in 1867. Henry Koontz was the first person to build it. For about ten years, the mill had several different owners.
In 1894, Isaac Morris bought the mill. He was known for updating mills with new technology.
Modernizing the Mill
When Isaac Morris took over, most mills used large grinding stones called "Burr stones." These stones were good for grinding grain. But in 1894, Mr. Morris installed new "roller mills." These rollers were better at making fine, white flour, which was becoming very popular.
The old Burr stones were then used to grind cornmeal and make animal feed. So, the mill started two different businesses at once. Mr. Morris also likely installed the steam engine that is still there today. This engine was built in 1875. It used to run on steam made from burning coal. Now, for safety, it runs on compressed air for demonstrations.
Running the Mill
Mr. Morris owned and ran the mill until 1910. Then, William C. Ley bought it. He ran the mill almost all the time, 24 hours a day, until 1930. People said Mr. Ley was very tall and spoke with a strong accent. He was known for keeping the mill's machines in perfect working order.
Mr. Ley might have continued to run the mill during certain seasons through the 1930s. He passed away in 1941.
Challenges and Restoration
Between 1939 and 1941, Mr. Ley's daughter, Estella Ley-Pickenpaugh, and her husband, Fred Pickenpaugh, tried to get the mill working fully again. However, they found it hard to get local wheat and grains. By then, most large-scale milling had moved to bigger mills in the Midwest.
The mill was given to the Monongalia Historical Society in 1978. In late 2012 and early 2013, work began to restore the mill. The goal was to have it running and open for visitors by spring 2013.
A Historic Landmark
The Easton Roller Mill is a very important historical site. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it is recognized as a special place that should be protected.
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. WV-4, "Easton Roller Mill, West Run Road, Morgantown, Monongalia County, WV", 24 photos, 4 measured drawings, 10 data pages, 2 photo caption pages
