Gray–Watkins Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gray–Watkins Mill
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 211 N. River St., Montgomery, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Built | 1853 |
| Architect | John Helm |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000846 |
| Added to NRHP | December 17, 1979 |
The Gray–Watkins Mill, also known as Gray's Mill, is an old and important building in Montgomery, Illinois. It's located in the state of Illinois, U.S.. This building was one of the first mills to use a special water wheel called a turbine. It used the power of the Fox River to grind flour. Later, it became a factory that made car parts. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
The Mill's Journey Through Time
The Gray–Watkins Mill stands in Montgomery, Illinois, at the corner of River and Mill Streets. It was built way back in 1853. Its first job was to be a flour mill. It used the strong flow of the Fox River to power its machines.
The mill worked hard until 1916. That year, thick ice in the river broke the dam that helped power the mill. Even after the dam was gone, the mill found a new way to work. It started using electricity for power. However, it finally closed down in 1922.
For many years after that, the mill building was empty. Then, in 1945, a man named Ernest Anfinsen bought it. He turned the old mill into a factory. This factory made parts for cars. The building was used for making car parts until 1971, when Mr. Anfinsen passed away.
After being empty again for a few years, the mill was recognized as a special historic place. Both Montgomery and nearby Aurora wanted to save it. In 1976, the building was fixed up and made new again. Because of its long history, the Gray–Watkins Mill was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 17, 1979.
What the Mill Looks Like
The Gray–Watkins Mill has a rectangular shape. It has a roof covered with asphalt shingles that slopes down on two sides (called a gable roof). The building is very tall, standing four stories high, plus an extra loft area at the very top. Inside, strong columns help hold up each floor. There are 15 columns on every level.
The main door to the mill is on the west side. This side also has a concrete loading area, like a small platform. Later, a wooden porch with a wood shake roof was built on top of this loading area. You can find other doors on the north side, which were added in the 1950s. There's also a door on the east side. This is where the water used to flow into the mill, but now it's covered with concrete.
The mill has many windows, 43 in total! Most of them are quite large, about 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. There's also a storage area under a small windowed section of the roof (called a dormer). This area used to hold supplies and machinery for an elevator, but the elevator isn't used anymore.
Inside the mill, the main stairs are on the west side. They were changed to meet modern building rules. A fancy metal railing, called a wrought iron bannister, was also added. This railing came from another building that was being taken down in Chicago. The inside walls were originally made of stone. But during the years it was a factory, they were covered with cement and plaster. When the mill was fixed up in 1976, new insulation, drywall, and wood strips (furring) were added to the walls. The main floor has a beautiful cherrywood floor. New lights were also put in during the 1976 renovation.
