Pickwick Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pickwick Mill
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 24813 County Road 7, Pickwick, Minnesota |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1854 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000314 |
| Added to NRHP | September 22, 1970 |
The Pickwick Mill is a really old and important building in Pickwick, Minnesota, close to the city of Winona. It's a special kind of mill called a gristmill, which means it used to grind grain into flour. Built way back in the 1850s, it's now a museum where you can learn all about how mills worked. The Pickwick Mill is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It's one of the oldest water-powered mills still standing in southeast Minnesota and was a big part of the local community's history.
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What the Mill Looks Like
The Pickwick Mill is a tall building, about six stories high! It was built using strong local limestone rocks. The wooden frame inside was put together without using nails, which was common for buildings of that time.
The Roof's Story
Originally, the mill had a pitched roof, meaning it had a sloped shape. But in 1907, a powerful tornado hit the mill. It ripped off the roof and damaged the very top floor. The people who ran the mill fixed it by putting on a flat roof made of planks. Later, in more recent years, the mill was given back its original sloped roof, making it look like it did when it was first built.
How the Mill Works
The mill gets its power from a large water wheel that is 20 feet (about 6 meters) tall. This wheel uses the force of flowing water to turn the machinery inside. Most of the original machines are still there and can even work today!
A Look Back at the Mill's History
The Pickwick Mill was built next to Big Trout Creek by two men named Thomas Grant and Wilson Davis. Some records say it was built in 1854, while others say it was between 1856 and 1858. It started as a mill that could grind both grain and lumber. By 1856, it was mainly used to make flour.
A Big Mill for Its Time
The Pickwick Mill is one of the biggest mills ever built in Minnesota. It was also one of the first businesses in the state that served the whole community. During the American Civil War, which happened from 1861 to 1865, the mill was very busy. It ran all the time, making 100 barrels of flour every single day for the Union Army soldiers.
Visiting the Historic Mill
Today, the Pickwick Mill is looked after by a group called Pickwick Mill Inc. This is a non-profit organization, which means they use any money they make to keep the mill running and teach people about its history. They get a lot of their funding from grants.
You can visit the Pickwick Mill and take a tour to see how it worked. It is usually open for visitors from May through October. It's a great place to learn about old technology and how people lived and worked long ago.
See also
