Mill Pictures Forum

(Reposted from old forum - 2/03/2010)

I have a copy of an 1807 agreement between a mill owner in Central Pennsylvania, and a local millwright. The millwright has to find a 10 plate stove to put in the wheel house, and keep it supplied with firewood.

I know they would close off the stone arches during the winter above the water line with temporary walls or doors to keep out the weather, but it seems like they may have used wood stoves to prevent the buildup of ice on the undershot and breast shot water wheels in these typical mills of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Then in the 1840's they began to replace the old wooden water wheels with water turbines. So therefore they would no longer need to keep a wood stove burning in the wheel pit.

Does anyone have any information about wood stoves in wheel pits or water houses, photos or documentation. Please e-mail me or post on this page. Don't just read and move on.
Thank you!

Theodore R. Hazen
trhazen{at}hotmail.com