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. It's a special kind of mill called a gristmill, which grinds grain into flour. This historic mill was built a long time ago, in the mid-1850s. Today, it's a museum where you can learn all about how mills used to work.
The Pickwick Mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical site for the state of Minnesota. It's one of the oldest mills in southeast Minnesota that still uses water power. It was a key business back then and is still a landmark in Winona County today.
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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 inside frame was made from timber without using nails, which was common back then. It originally had a sloped, or pitched, roof.
In 1907, a strong tornado hit the mill. It tore off the roof and damaged the top floor. The people running the mill replaced it with a flat roof. But in recent years, the mill's original sloped roof was put back.
How the Mill Works
The mill gets its power from a large water wheel. This wheel is about 20-foot (6 m) tall! Most of the mill's original machines are still inside. They can even still work today.
A Look at the Mill's History
The Pickwick Mill was built next to Big Trout Creek. Two men, Thomas Grant and Wilson Davis, built it. Some records say it was built between 1856 and 1858. Other sources say it was built in 1854.
The mill's first job was to grind grain and cut lumber. By 1856, it focused mainly on making flour.
Busy Times at the Mill
The Pickwick Mill is one of the biggest mills in Minnesota. It was also one of the first businesses in the area. During the American Civil War, the mill was very busy. It worked non-stop! It made about 100 barrels of flour every single day for the Union Army.
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 help the mill, not to make a profit. They get most of their money from special grants.
You can visit the Pickwick Mill for tours. It is usually open from May through October. It's a great place to learn about history and how things were made long ago!
See also
