After falling into disrepair and sitting vacant for more than 50 years, a gristmill in Salem, Indiana, was restored in 2008.Beck's Mill was once a hub of activity and was a vital tool for early settlers. But what is gristmill?A few miles outside of Salem, you'll find an old mill built in the 1800s called Beck's Mill."Not only did you get your milling done, you picked up your mail. we've got a post office right behind us," said Beck's Mill volunteer Judy Quinlin. "It's now our gift shop, but you picked up your mail, discussed different things with people waiting to get their milling done. This mill was so hopping, sometimes it ran 24 hours a day."The gristmill was an important machine at that time. It ground grains into flour or mill, essential for cooking. Quinlin said pioneers of the time traveled from all over to use the mill, sometimes having to wait days due to high volume."Almost like the tv station you got your news here at Beck's Mill," she said.Quinlin gives tours of the historic site.An artist, Quinlin first fell in love with the mill when she used to paint pictures of it but over time she watched it deteriorate."I watched every little board fall off every year... stones missing... I was just so worried about the mill and then in 2007 an awareness class of Washington County decided to make it their class project to get it restored and I was so excited," she said.And by 2008 it was restored and operational again.Friends of Beck's Mill volunteers like Quinlin maintain the property and give tours. It now operates as a museum and visitors can grind corn and buy bags of corn flour.Beck's Mill is listed as one of Indiana's most significant historic landmarks and is listed on the national register of historic places.Have a question for Caray? Email askcaray@wlky.com
SALEM, Ind. — After falling into disrepair and sitting vacant for more than 50 years, a gristmill in Salem, Indiana, was restored in 2008.
Beck's Mill was once a hub of activity and was a vital tool for early settlers. But what is gristmill?
A few miles outside of Salem, you'll find an old mill built in the 1800s called Beck's Mill.
"Not only did you get your milling done, you picked up your mail. we've got a post office right behind us," said Beck's Mill volunteer Judy Quinlin. "It's now our gift shop, but you picked up your mail, discussed different things with people waiting to get their milling done. This mill was so hopping, sometimes it ran 24 hours a day."
The gristmill was an important machine at that time. It ground grains into flour or mill, essential for cooking.
Quinlin said pioneers of the time traveled from all over to use the mill, sometimes having to wait days due to high volume.
"Almost like the tv station you got your news here at Beck's Mill," she said.
Quinlin gives tours of the historic site.
An artist, Quinlin first fell in love with the mill when she used to paint pictures of it but over time she watched it deteriorate.
"I watched every little board fall off every year... stones missing... I was just so worried about the mill and then in 2007 an awareness class of Washington County decided to make it their class project to get it restored and I was so excited," she said.
And by 2008 it was restored and operational again.
Friends of Beck's Mill volunteers like Quinlin maintain the property and give tours. It now operates as a museum and visitors can grind corn and buy bags of corn flour.
Beck's Mill is listed as one of Indiana's most significant historic landmarks and is listed on the national register of historic places.
Have a question for Caray? Email askcaray@wlky.com
