Grist Mill : grist·mill : ˈɡris(t)mil : [noun] : A gristmill grinds cereal grain into flour and middlings. The term can refer to both the grinding mechanism and the building that holds it.
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In the foothills of the Cascade Mountains,
deep in the lush, damp, green woods of southwestern Washington state
is the Cedar Creek Grist Mill.
These days it is no longer a commercial operation,
but is still an operating mill after 143 years,
founded by George Woodham in 1876.
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The oldest known structure in Washington is a small white,
clapboard pioneer church in Claquato,
a blip in the road on Highway 6,
just west of Chehalis, built in 1857.
So while not the oldest building in the region
where pioneers originally settled in what became Washington state in 1889,
it is old and amazing. Both the mill and bridge have been restored,
and are on the National Register of Historic places.
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I quite stumbled upon this mill while driving around,
poking down the blue highways in the area
and was so pleased I did.
Dropping down a steep hill,
it looked very much like the hollows
in West Virginia or North Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains
where my dad’s family is from.
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The mill itself is only open on weekends
and is a working museum staffed by volunteers these days.
It was closed the day I visited,
but I could peek into the windows
and enjoyed the cool shade and rustling breeze in the deep woods
and the bubbling, tumbling of Cedar Creek beneath the covered bridge.
I hope to go back one of these days and
see in mill in operation.
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Here’s a shot of the restored covered bridge,
it was a delight!
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Great find! And splendid photos capturing the stunning location and the skill required to erect a building there.
This place looks fascinating. It would be fun to see that mill in operation.