Ozarks Mills Tour
On Monday, August 20, Allison, Nancy and I went on the 5-Mill Ozarks Mills Tour of Ozark County that we have said we were going to do for the three years we have been here since our retirement. We used the excellent Phyllis Rossiter "The Mills of Ozark County" website as a guide (see the excellent map on the website). [Many of you have likely seen the 42 photos Allison posted on Facebook...]
We drove east on State Highway 76, picked up U. S. 160 east through Taney County and into Ozark County to Gainesville. To start the tour we drove east of Gainesfill on 160 to the intersection with PP to located Old Dawt Mill.
This is a photo Allison took of the wheel on the end of the Dawt Mill building.
The restaurant was closed on Monday, the day we were there. This location is primarily known as a great canoe and kayak location on the North Fork of the White River.
I'll later add a link here to a more detailed account of our visit to The Old Dawt Mill.
Next we went to the Hodgson Mill, probably the most familiar and most well-known Mill on the Tour.
This is the photo I took of Allison by the pond in front of the Mill. This mill sits on top of a huge spring that "spews" nearly 3 million gallons of "clear, cold water" a day. Amazing. This mill also has the most working parts and mechanics still in place, even though it is no longer a working mill. The "Hodgson Mill" floor and other products, that you may see in your stores, are now produced in a modern mill in Gainesville. In it's day, this mill not only ground corn, but powered a cotton gin, a lumber mill and a clothing factory, ... as well as generated electricity for all the mill-site enterprises.
Again, I'll post a link to my more expansive coverage a little later.
Next was a drive by of the Zanoni Mill which now sits on the grounds of the Zanoni Mill Inn (and Ranch), private property just off the highway, but with a road and turnaround access. It is the one with the well-preserved example of a rare overshot millwheel. This is also from the photo Allison took.
Next was the Rockbridge Mill which is now part of major Trout Fishing and Hunting preserve - with a fine restaurant. The mill itself now serves at the Club, open in the afternoon and evening for the guest who want a drink in a unique setting (Photo of Mill Club by Allison). The dam is directly behind.
Nice stream and dam in the rear.
Across the parking lot from the Mill Club on the side hill is the Restaurant, with several housing units in the background.
Allison got this nice closeup of Nancy waiting for us to take our photos around the Mill.
Here we are enjoying a fine meal.
There will be a more detailed story of this visit, as well.
We finished our trip by locating the Hammond Mill at the far end of a gravel road. The current owners are in the process of renovation of this mill location. It is a relic only, but still fascinating. The lady we talked to said the prior owners had added the big round window. It was obvious it is now set up as a residence... at lease the top two floors. Only time will tell the next life of this mill.
We had left home a little after 10 am and returned home right at 5 pm - it was a very good day! ;-)
