Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-30
A REMARKABLE MILL.
In Which Most Everything IL Made
and the Gospel is Preached,
Boston Globe.


Boston Globe
On the old county road leading from
Taunton to New Bedford, about three
miles from Taunton Green, at the
head of a large pond, stands build
ing whose history is SO peculiar and
properly be classe6 among the won-
ders of the old colony. It was erected
about fifty years ago by Josiah King
for fork works. A few years after
ward it was sold to William Pierce,
who now owns it. In appearance it
is no more peculiar than the ordinary
run Of saw mills. Its age rests lightly
upon it, and, barring accidents, it is
likely to remain a landmark for at
least fifty years to come, Its history,
| told by one who lives near il, is as
follows:
"On the lower floor of the building
are three rooms, In one is grist-
mill, IN another machinery for saw
ing and splitting wood and cider max
ing and the third is used for church
and for holding various kinds of en-
tertainments. Grain is brought here
from miles around and ground into
meal for fodder and cake making. On
any day during the late fall you will
see half 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 su~
perior to any that can be bought at the
store.
ST asked an old man one day way
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 nae. l don't believe in s. many new
tangled notions just got ip t git the
| money out Nv us poor farmers OF
| course he must have his clumsy joke
on the end: I can bolt my own
meal fast enough when It's made into
| cakes
I'm the early fall the 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 full of the fermented
juice, and cup near by invites every
one to help himself. One day small
boy wandered lie. He could not reach
| over the top OF the barrel to the cider,
SO he made an inclined plane Of
board and crawled up on it. He
reached down to dip a cupful Of the
coveted liquid. The board tipped up
| and the young man went IN head
first. Luckily someone heard the
splash and rushed TO the roonn just IN
time to save the yonth from a 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. once
saw q young man drink ten glasses In
rapid succession. When this part of
mill is not in use for cider making,
| wood is sawed and split here, and the
same old farmers who bring their own
corn to have it ground to save-money
will bring a load Of wood and have it
reduced to the proper size for stove
burning. Years ago this part of the
mill was used for saving box boards
and shingles, and more recently as
furniture factory.
In all the years the old mill has
been running there has :een but one
accident. One day the mill was saw
ing shingles, when young man with
q scarf about his neck came in. He
got too near the shafting, and it
caught him by the scarf and began to
could be stopped his boots and stock
ings were torn from his feet in shreds,
and four of his ribs and an arm were
broken.
''The room used as a church is such
as the old puritans worshiped IN. Ex
cept in midsummer and midwiMter
meetings are held here regularly
Sunday evenings, and on week day
evenings fairs, festivals and sewing
cirelss' often make merry in this room.
Not infrequently in winter a dance
draws the young people to the old
mill.
Il distinctly remember one evening
prayer and praise meeting that atS
tended here. The minister was an
old man and very near sighted. In
the course of the evening he began to
cough, and not beiag able TO control
it he asked for someone to fetch him
a glass OF water. It was early in the
fall, in cider making time, and in the
second room beyond stood the full
DARRELL and glass near it. A young
scapegrace quickly responded to the
request Of the minister, but instead of
bringing water he filled the glass with
cider, and with sober face took it up
to the preacher. The audience dis
covered the trick and reached for
handkerchiefs. 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 his face
when ne realized the trick I will not
attempt to describe. The audience
smiled and Uttered, but the minister
Immediately regained his composure,
and said not word.
Zone of the most pathetic scenes
ever witnessed was the funeral of
little child in the church room of the
old mill. The parents were poor,