The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-09-18
A REMARKABLE MILL.
In Which Most Everything Is Made and the
Gospel Is Preached.

.
whose history is SO peculiar and whose
uses are so many that it can properly
be classed among the wonders of the
old colony. 1t was erected about fifty
years ago by Josiah King for a fork
works. A few years afterward it was
sold to William Pierce, who now owns
it. In appearance it is no more pc
culiar than the ordinary run of coun-
try saw-mills. Its age rests lightly
upon it, and. barring accidents, it is
likely to remain landmark for at
least fifty years to come. Its history,
told by one who lives near it, is as
follows:
''On the lower floor of the building
are three rooms. In one is grist-
mill, in another machin cry 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 there from
miles around and ground into meal
for fodder and cake-making. On any
day during the late fall you will see
half a dozen old farmers gathered
about discussing things. in general,
and waiting for their little grist to be
ground. Meal made from corn of their
own raising is thought far superior to
any that can be bought at the store.
Il asked an old man one day why he
did not use bolted meal. I've used
meal of my own and fathers raisin'
for over sixty year. an its good
enough f. me. Idon't b'live in s. many
new-fangled notions just gut ip t. git
money out NV us por formers Of
course he must have his clumsy joke
on the end: 81 en- bolt my own
meal fast enuf when It's made into
cakes.
'In the early fall the old mill is kept
running night and day making cider.
Hundreds of cart-loads of apples are
ground up and the juice squeezed out.
An upright barrel with one head out
stands always full of the fermented
Juice, and cup near by invites every
one to help himself. One day a small
boy wandered in. He could not reach
over the top of the barrel to the cider,
30 he made san inclined plane of a
board and crawled up on it. He reached
down to dip cupful of the coveted Ii
Guid. The board tipped up and the
young man went in head first. Lucki-
ly someone heard the splash and rush
ed into the room just in time to save
the youth from cidery grave. This
boy has now grown up to be an active
temperance worker. Cider drinking
parties are often held here, and the
person who drinks the most is voted
the champion. I once saw a young
man drink ten glasses in rapid success
sion. When this part of the mill is not
in use for cider-making wood is sawed
and split here, and the same old farm
ers who bring their own corn to have
it ground to save money will bring
load of wood and have it reduced to
the proper size for burning.
Years ago this part of the mill was
used for saving box-boards and shin
giles, and more recently as furniture
factory.
.sIn all the years the old mill
has been there has been but
one accident. One day the mill
was saving shingles, when a
young man with a scarf about his
neck came in. He got too near the
shafting, and it caught him by 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.
''The room used as a church is such
rs the old puritans worshiped in. Ex-
cept in midsummer and midwinter
meetings are held here regularly Sun
days, and on weekday evenings fairs,
festivals, and sewing circles often
make merry in this room. Not infre-
quently in winter dance draws the
young people to the old mill.
81 distinctly remember one evening
prayer and praise meeting that I at
tended here. The minister was an
old man and very near-sighted. In
the course of the evening he began to |
cough, and not being able to control
it he asked for someone to fetch him u
glass of water. 1t was early in the
fall, in cider-making time, and in the
second room beyond stood the full
barrel and glass near it. A young
scapegrace quickly responed to the re-
quest of the minister, but instead of
bringing water he filled the glass with
cider, and with sober face took it up
10 the preacher. The audience dis
covered the trick and reached for
The unsuspecting old |
gentleman raised the glass to his lips,
and, without stopping to taste or
smell. swallowed the whole of it. |
Such look of horror as came over
mis- face when he realized the rrIck / |
will not attempt to describe. The au-
1ience smiled and Uttered, but the
minister Immediately regained his
and said not word.
''One of the most pathetic scenes 1
aver witnessed was the funeral of
little child in the church room of the
Did mill. The parents were poor,
hard-working people, and the dead
baby was the only one God had given
them. 1t was q beautiful little girl, as
fair as though its parents had been of
royal blood instead of being too poor
to provide a coffin for the little thing.
Kind neighbors had bought little
white casket and made little white
robe of some cheap cloth and trimmed |
it with blue ribbons. They put flow
ers about the room in the old mill in |
rude vases and cups, and gathered |
reverently about the mourning par
ents. while the minister said a few