Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-08-23
A I,EMAI,KABLE MILL.
In Which Most Everything IL Made and
the Gospel u Preached.

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On the old county road leading from
Taunton to New Bedford, about three
miles from Taunton green, at the head
OF n large pond. stands building
whose history is so peculiar and whose
uses are so many that it can properly
be classcd among the wonders Of the
old colony. IL was erected about fifty
years ago by Josiah King for fork
works. A few years aftcrward it was
sold to William Pierce. who now owns
II. In appearance 1t is no more pecu-
har than the ordinary run of country
saw-mllis. Its age rests lightly upon
1t, and, barring accidents, it is likely
to remain landmark for ut least fifty
years to come. Its history, told by one
who lives near 1t, is as follows:
"On the lower floor of the building
are three rooms. In one is Il grist-
mill, IN another machinery for saving
and splitting wood and cider making.
and the third is used for church and
for holding various kinds of entertain
ments. Grain Is brought here from
miles around and ground into meal for
fodder and cake-making. On any
day during the fall you will see half q
dozen old farmers gathered about dis
cusslhg things IN general, and waiting
Tor their little grist to be ground. Meal
made from corn OF their own raising is
thouSht lar superior to any that can
DC Dought NJ the store.
81 asked an old man one day why he
did not use bolted meal. 'Fve used
meal OF my own and fathers raisin' for
over sixty year an Its good enough f
me. dont i've IN 5 many new.
IanSicd notions Just gut lp git money
out oV us poor farmers. vi course he
must nave MS clumsy joke on the end:
en- Dolt my own meal fast enuf
when Is made INTO cakes.
in the early fail the Old mill is kept
running night and day making cider.
hundreds OF carloads OF apples are
ground up and the juice squeezed out.
An upright barrel with one head out
STANDS always iull OF the fermentcd
juice, and cup near by invites every.
Dody TO hclp himsel1. one day a small
boy wandered IN. lie could not reach
over the top Oh the barrel TO the cider,
80 ne mace an inclined plane OF
board ana crawied up on 1t. He
reached down to- DIP cnpful of the
coveted liquid. The board tipped up
ana tne young man went IN mead irst
Luckily so'ucone heard the splash and
rushed into the room Just in time to save
the youth from cldory grave. This
BOY has now grown up to be an active
temperance worker. Cider-drinkinS
paftleS are often held here, and the
person VINO drinks the most Is voted
the champion. once saw young
man drink ten glasses IN RAPID success
sion. when TINS part OF the mill is
not IN use Tor cldcr-maklng wood is
sawed and split here, and the same old
farmers who bring their own corn to
nave II ground 10 save money will
BRING load OF wood and have it re-
auced to thc proper SIZE for stove
burning Tears ago thIs part OF the
mill was used Tor saving box boards
ana shingles, anu more recently AS a
furniture factory.
I'm all the years the old mill has been
running there has been but one acci-
dent. One day the mil was saving
shingles, when young man with u
scarf about his neck came in. lie got
too near the shafting. and 1t, caught
nm Dy the scarf and began to throw
HIM around and around. Before the
mill could be stopped his boots and
stockings were torn from his feet in
shreds, and TOUR OF his ribs and an arm
were broken.
"Ihe room used as church is such
as the Old purltans worshipcd in. Ex-
cept IN midsummer and midwin,cr
meetings are held there regularly Sun
day evenings, and on weekday even
ings fairs, festivals, aud sewing circles
often make merry IN this room. Not
lnirequcE 'y IN winter a dance draws
the young people TO the old mill.
81 distinctly remember one evening
prayer ana praise meeting that 1 at
tended here. The minister was an old
man and very ncar-sighted. In the
course OF the evening he began to
cough. and not being able to control 1t
he asked for someone to fetch him a
glass OF water. 1t was early in the
fall, In cider-making time, anu IN lhc
second room beyond stood the fuil bar
rel and glass near it. young scape-
grace quickly responded to the request
OF the minister, but instead OF bringing
water he filled the glass with cider,
and with sober face took 1t up to the
preacher. The audience discovered
the trick and reached for handkerchiefs.
The unsuspecting Old gentleman raised
the glass to his lips, and without stop
ping TO taste or smell, swalio"ed the
whole OF IL, Such "A look OF horror as
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