New Hope Mills Complex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
New Hope Mills Complex
|
|
(April 2005)
|
|
 Location in New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Glen Haven Rd. and NY 41A New Hope, Cayuga County, New York |
|---|---|
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1823 |
| Architect | Judge Charles Kellogg |
| Architectural style | 19th Century vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000158 |
| Added to NRHP | March 15, 2005 |
The New Hope Mills Complex is a really old and important place in New Hope, Cayuga County, New York. It's a historic grist mill, which is a special kind of mill that grinds grain into flour. This complex isn't just the mill building; it also has two old houses, a barn, a sawmill, and even two dams with a 1-acre (4,000 m2) mill pond! It's a cool place that shows us how things were made a long time ago.
The Mill's Story: From Grain to Flour
This grist mill was partly built way back in 1823 by a man named Judge Charles Kellogg. He was an important person who helped make laws in New York and even in the United States as a Congressman.
Over the years, the mill changed hands many times. In 1851, Horace Rounds bought it, and it stayed in the Rounds family until 1947. That's a long time! Then, it was sold to Howard Weed, Hubert Latta, and Leland Weed, and they gave it the name "New Hope Mills." Later, in 2001, Dale Weed became the only owner.
How the Mill Worked
The mill building is very strong, made with heavy timber. It has several parts added in the late 1800s. Inside, you can find old steel roller mills and other machines from the 19th century.
In the 1850s, there were 14 other businesses that used water power along Bear Swamp Creek! The New Hope Mill could originally grind 200 bushels of grain every day using three big stones. In 1892, it switched to using roller mills, which were more modern.
Even though you can see a big waterwheel on the outside, most of the mill's power came from a water turbine. This turbine was hidden underneath the building. It could run all year long if there was enough water. The complex has an upper mill pond where the sawmill is, with a 24-foot waterfall. There's also a lower mill pond with a 28-foot drop. Water could be saved in the upper pond to help run the mill the next day.
New Hope Mills Today
The New Hope Mills company makes yummy pancake, muffin, scone, and cookie mixes. In 2003, they moved their main factory to Auburn, New York. But they still own the old mill! They are keeping it safe and plan to turn it into a working museum. This way, people can visit and see how a grist mill operated long ago.
The New Hope Mills Complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. This means it's a special place recognized for its history.
Gallery
