Gillette's Grist Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gillette's Grist Mill
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Maple Hollow Rd., New Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001403 |
| Added to NRHP | August 29, 1977 |
Gillette's Grist Mill is a really old grist mill located in New Hartford, Connecticut. A grist mill is a place where grain, like wheat or corn, was ground into flour. This mill was probably built in the mid-1800s. It's special because it still has its original water wheel, which is very rare to see today! In 1977, this important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
What is Gillette's Grist Mill?
Gillette's Grist Mill stands in a quiet, country area of New Hartford. It sits right next to the Nepaug River. Long ago, this area had many factories and workshops. Today, this mill is the only old industrial building left.
The mill is a two-and-a-half story wooden building. It sits on a tall stone base. This base includes a big space where the water wheel used to turn. The building looks a lot like barns built in the mid-1800s.
How the Mill Worked
Inside the mill, you can still see parts of the old machinery. These parts date back to around 1870. They include the large water wheel itself. There are also iron gears that connected the wheel to other shafts. These shafts would spin the heavy grindstones.
Water was very important for the mill. Channels called "raceways" brought water from the river to the mill. Some of these old channels can still be seen today. They are on both sides of the building, even though some have been filled in.
History of the Mill
People probably started using this spot for industry in the early 1800s. A man named Joseph Gillette owned many businesses here. He had two sawmills, a grist mill, and other workshops.
His children took over the grist mill in 1840. But grinding grain became a bigger business. Larger mills started to appear in different regions. Because of this, Gillette's Grist Mill stopped working by 1880. The exact year the building was built isn't known. However, its style matches other buildings from the mid-1800s.
