Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-08-27
A REMARKABLE MILL.
In which Most E,rrything IL Made and
the Gospel l. Preached.


Taunton To New Bedford, abou, three
miles from Taunton green. at the head
of II large pond, stands n building
whose history is so peculiar and whose
uses are 80 many that il can properly
be classcd among the wonders Of the
old colony. 1t 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
1t. In appearance 1t is no more pecu-
liar than the ordinary run of country
saw-mills. Its age rests lightly upon
II, and, barring accidents, it is likely
to remain u landmark for at least fifty
years to come. Its history. told by one
who lives near it. is as follows:
son the lower floor OF the building
are three rooms. In one is "A prist-
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 cntcrtain-
mcnts. Grain is Brought here from
miles around and ground into meal for
fodder and cakc-making. On any
day during the fall you will see half a
dozen old farmers gathered about dis
'"'''h- e'ih-' III E'hNl uls anu NUlllHV
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.
81 asked an old man one day why he
did not use boltcd meal. I've used
meal of my own and fathers raisin' for
over sixty year an its good enough f
me. l don't b'livc in $ many new.
tangled notions just gut ip t git money
out ov us poor farmers. OF course he
must have his clumsy joke on the end
Il en- bolt my own meal fast enul
when Is made into cakes
"ln the early fall the old mill is kcp,
running night and day making cider.
Hundreds of cartloads 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
body to help himself One day a small
boy wandered in. He could not reach
over the top of the barrel to the cider,
so he made an inclined plane of
board and crawlcd up on it. He
reached down to dip cupful of the
coveted liquid. The board tipped up
anu INC yo"IS hIdu went III hcau hrSL
Luckily so cone heard the splash and
rushed into the room just in time TO save
the youth from cdcry grave. This
boy has now grown up to be an active
temperance worker CIdcr-drink in !,
parties are often held here, and the
person who drinks the most is voted
the champion. once saw n Young
man drink ten glasses in rapid success
sion. When this part of the mill is
not in use for cldcr-making wood is
sawed and split here, and the same old
Farmers who bring their own corn to
have 1t ground to save money will
bring load OF wood and have it re-
duccd 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 a
furniture factory.
"ln 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 a
scarf about his neck came in. lie got
too near the shaitlng. 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
shrcds, and four OF his ribs and an arm
were broken.
"lhc room used rs n church is such
as the OLD pUrItans worshipcd IN. EX-
ccpt IN midsummer and mdwlntcr
meetings are held there regularly Sun
day evenings ana on weekday even
lngs fairs, festivals, and sewing circles
often MAKE merry in this room. Not
InlrcIucrNy IN winter dance draws
the young people to the old mill.
81 distinctly remember one evening
prayer ana praise meeting that l at
tondcd here. The minister was an Ola
man and very ncar-si@htcd. In the
course of the evening he began to
cough, and not being able to control 1t
he asked for someone to fetch HIM
| glass OF water. 1t was early III the
fall, in cidcr-making time, and IN the
second room beyond stood the full bar
| rel and glass near 1t. a young Scapc-
| grace quickly responded to the request
OF the minister but instead OF bringing
water he filled the glass with cIdcr,
and with sober face took 1t up to the
| preacher. lhe audience discovered
the trick and reached for handkerchieis.
The unsuspectlng o.d gentleman raised
the glass to his lips, ana without stop
| ping TO taste or smell, swallows" inc
| whole of it. Such look OF horror 4.
| c,ua ov,r hi. t,ro whnn hr realized
| luc lIlth ! Will uDl alltlh pt " ''NNI l'''