Millstone from the Bates Flour Mill

This Limestone Millstone, Was Donated To The Dexter Area Historical Society By
Erwin and JoAnn Mast
SEPTEMBER 14,^TH. 1990
THE BATES MILL SITE, THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SHIELDS ROAD & MILL CREEK, WAS BETWEEN THE MILL RACES & MILL CREEK, VRELON BATES, WHO PURCHASED THE PROPERTY FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN 1826, ERECTED THE MILL ABOUT 1840. ABOUT 1870 IT WAS CONVERTED FROM A SAW MILL TO A FLOUR MILL & OPERATED INTO THE 1890s. THIS STONE WAS THE UPPER MOVABLE STONE, THE RUNNER, & RESTED ON A SHAFT FROM BELOW, THE SPINDLE. THE POWER TO TURN THE SPINDLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE MILL'S WATER WHEEL. THE LOWER STONE WAS STATIONARY & CALLED A BUHR-STONE. THE SPACE BETWEEN THE STONES WAS MAINTAINED BY ADJUSTMENT MECHANISMS UNDER THE SPINDLE. THE HAND-CUT GROOVES IN THE STONE MATCHED A SECOND SET OF GROOVES IN THE STATIONARY BUHR-STONE. THE GROOVES PROVIDED A SHEARING, SQUEEZING & CRUSHING ACTION ON THE GRAIN.

THIS PLAQUE ERECTED SEPTEMBER, 1997