The Washington times., 1907-10-12
Historic Property viii
Have Antique Over
shot Wheel and
Quaint Mill
Race.

Pierce's mill, the last Of the seven pic
turesque relics of colonial grist mill ar
chitecture that a century ago formed
the Industrial life along the banks OF
Rock Creek, one Of the quaint historic
landmarks of the Rock Creek Park. is
10 be restored 10 its former colonial
simplicity by the rebuilding Of its mill
race and the installation OF an old wood
en- overshot water wheel that will slowly
turn the old stone burrs as In the DAYS
Of yore.
Daniel r Garges, secretary to Engi-
neer Commissioner Morrow and chief
clerk Of the Engineering Department.
who is secretary to the Rock Creek
Park Commission. has made the an
nouncement that It is the purpose Of
the commission 10 restore as far as
possible the OLD mill as 1t was nearly a
hundred years ago.
Race Torn Up.
When the tract on which the old mill
stands was purchased by the Govern
nent TO make up a part Of Rock Creek
Park the neavy stone of which the mill
race was constructed was torn out and
crushed for macadamizing the road
ways Of the park. Later, high water
carried away the picturesque wooden
mill wheel The building is a spacious
stone structure. built OF a blue granite.
so plentiful In the raviEes OF the creek
nearby. and is laid in white mortar.
The roof is constructed Of heavy oeam
umbers covered with shingles. made
on the ground. In fact, all Of the mate
rial In the mill came from the land on
which IL stands. The nails used IN its
"a hp hrff1
Ing Is in an excellent state Of preserva-
ton. and each summer for the cast few
years has been used by a party OF So
ciety ladies as tea house.
VIII Purchase Old Wheel.
1t is the purpose of the Park Com
mission to purchase from some old and
abandoned mill an overshot water
wheel, and install II at the Pierce mill
The wheel VIII be in actual operation
giving 20 the historic landmark all the
color of realistic life.
Pierce's mill has an interesting his
tory closely interviewer with that Of the
twenty miles Of territory surrounding
it, Isaac Pierce, Of Scotch stock, the
grandfather Of Louis ?. Shoemaker, one
Of Washington's best known citizens,
and real estate brokers, came
to this section from Pennsylvania in
l1I3 TO take up 4 land grant from George
III Of 1900 acres covering Rock Creek,
what is now Rock Creek Park and sur
rounding section. He found on the pres
7nt site Of Pierces mill a log mill that
mad been built at 4 period of which
there IS no record. This mill was used
10y the estate until 1870, when the pres
ent mill was erected. IL was the prin-
cipal g-ist mill in all this section of
the country, farmers bringing their grist
to Ptnrce's mill from twenty miles away.
The mill was considered the largest and
best grist mill In the country. Mr..
Pierce never personally conducted the
mill, but leased il to practical millers,
the rent o.. the min half century ago
being 500 a month and certain tolls,
which In that day was a considerable
sum Of money
Estate Handed Down.
When Isaac Pierce died about 1870
the entire estate was transferred by
will to his son. Abner Pierce. He died
leaving the estate to the Shoemaker
heirs. grandchildren Of the original
owner. The Shoernakers sold 800 acres
Of their holdings to tie Government
for the park. including the old mill.
The Shoemaker heirs still own q con-
siderable portion Of the original tract
Including the old homestead on the hill
i;;st beyond the MILL The property
since its grant from the English crown
in the hands Of the heirs at law, since
Isaac Pierce's death. being transferred
by viii from one member Of the family
to the survivors. There Is cOntinu-
Gus clear title and Louis F. Shoemaker
today has IN his possession the original