Dave.Largent wrote:
George Washington's Gristmill was part of the original Mount Vernon plantation, constructed in 1771 Washington erected a large stone gristmill on the plantation to replace a mill his father had built in the 1730s. That structure was destroyed about 1850. The Commonwealth of Virginia and the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association have reconstructed the gristmill and the adjacent distillery. The reconstructed buildings are located at their original site three miles West of Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia.
The mill was powered by a large water wheel. To ensure a steady power supply, water was diverted from Piney Branch into Dogue Run Creek above the mill's headrace. The additional water flow significantly increased the mill's production capacity. In 1791 Washington automated his mill using technology developed and patented by Oliver Evans of Delaware. Evans was personally acquainted with the mill and had repaired some of its works.
Washington's gristmill was capable of producing 5,000 to 8,000 pounds of flour and cornmeal a day. Today, this milling system is faithfully interpreted, fully-functioning, and open to guests seasonally.
Washington's mill utilized a 16' pitch back waterwheel that was placed inside the mill's walls.
Washington fit his mill with two sets of millstones, one set of French imported burrstones were used to grind wheat for the export market, the other set, from Northern Germany, were used to grind corn and other grains such as barley, oats and rye.
Despite all the challenges in building, maintaining, and operating the mill, the enterprise proved to be a highly profitable one. In 1797, the gristmill produced 117 pounds of profit, the third highest of any activity at Mount Vernon. In that year alone the mill ground more than 5,000 bushels (275,000 pounds) of wheat and another 3,200 bushels (178,000 pounds) of corn. Much of the surplus grain was sold to expanding markets in nearby Alexandria and Fredericksburg, but other shipments were sent as far away as England, Portugal, and the island of Jamaica.
In addition to grinding grain from his own operations, Washington's mill also ground grain for neighboring farmers, who paid 1/8th of their grain in payment for the grinding.
George Washington's Gristmill was part of the orig... (
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These are some great shots, Dave! I love Mt. Vernon! The Grist Mill is very interesting, but not the most photographed part of Mt. Vernon. Nicely done.