Terrace Mill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Terrace Mill Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
The Terrace Mill from the east-northeast
Location in Minnesota Show map of Minnesota Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Off Minnesota Highway 104, Chippewa Falls Township, Minnesota
Nearest city	Sedan, Minnesota
Area	3.8 acres (1.5 ha)
Built	1882, 1903, 1915, 1930
Architect	Jonas M. Danelz (mill, bridge), Peter Takken (house)
Part of	Terrace Historic District (ID82002999)
NRHP reference No.	79001252
Added to NRHP	July 17, 1979

The Terrace Mill is an old water-powered mill located in Terrace, Minnesota. Today, it's a fun museum where you can learn about history! A watermill uses the power of flowing water to turn big wheels, which then grind grain into flour.

The Terrace Mill is managed by the Terrace Mill Foundation, a group that works to keep this special place alive. At the mill, you can explore a gallery, watch shows in a theater, and find cool souvenirs in the gift shop. The outdoor areas also host exciting events.

The mill and four other buildings nearby are part of the Terrace Mill Historic District. This means they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places because they are very important to the local history of business, engineering, industry, and transportation.

The Mill's Story: How It Began

The very first flour mill on this spot was built in 1870. It helped local farmers turn their grain into flour. This mill worked for about 25 years. Then, it was moved to a town called Brooten, Minnesota, to be closer to a new train line.

In 1901, a man named Jonas M. Danelz bought the land. Two years later, in 1903, he built the mill you see today. This new mill continued the important work of grinding grain for the community.

New Owners and Changes

In 1920, Peter Takken bought the mill. He made some big changes to make it more modern. He added a powerful diesel engine to help run the mill. In 1930, Peter also built a house for himself right next to the mill.

Peter Takken stopped grinding grain in 1949. After that, a new owner turned the mill into a workshop. They made special wooden furniture, especially for churches. This workshop stayed open until 1967.

After 1967, the Terrace Mill was empty for several years. But people in the community wanted to save it. In the mid-1970s, efforts began to protect this historic site. The Terrace Mill Foundation was officially formed in 1979 to help preserve and share its history.

What Makes the Historic District Special?

The Terrace Mill Historic District includes five important parts. These are the mill itself (built in 1903), a Stone Arch Bridge (also from 1903), a Steel Beam Highway Bridge (from 1915), the Mill Dam (possibly from 1882), and the Miller's House (built in 1930).

This district is important because it shows how small, water-powered mills used to work in Minnesota. It's special because all the parts of a working watermill complex are still there. It also sits on the land where Pope County's very first flour mill was built in 1870.

The mill played a huge role in the local economy until the 1960s. The way the mill was built and how its water turbine works are great examples of small watermills from that time. It's one of only about 24 such mills left in Minnesota outside of the big cities like Minneapolis–Saint Paul.

More Historic Buildings

The Terrace Mill Foundation has also moved other old buildings to the mill grounds. These buildings are not part of the official National Register district, but they add to the historical experience.

One of these is a log cabin, which was one of the first houses in Terrace. It was rebuilt at the mill in the early 1980s. There's also a "heritage cottage" from the 1950s. It shows how people from Scandinavia built their homes and what their furnishings looked like.

Gallery

See also

• List of watermills in the United States
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Pope County, Minnesota