Alley Spring

This site is on the bucket list of many photographers.  Certainly the site is photogenic.  But, I suspect that there is more than that going for it.  We like history! The site reminds us of a different time where such spring fed milling operations were vital to community life.  Grain was ground to make bread, whether from wheat or corn.  People gathered at mills, exchanged news and were able to socialize.  It was not uncommon for additional shops to open meeting other needs of people who traveled in miles for milling services.  Dances, games and picnics were all part of the Alley's busier days. A school was developed on this site (sorry no photographs of it).  Church services were held in the school.

We arrived very early in the morning just as the sun was beginning to peek over the hills surrounding the spring.

As the sun rose, it was easier to appreciate the richness of the scene.  Are you thinking, "Where is the waterwheel?"  This mill did not have one!  Instead, it was built in 1894 with what was considered modern machinery at the time.  Steel rollers were used for grinding and the exterior water wheel was replaced by a submerged turbine. The speed of the turbine was controlled by managing the amount of water that went through the 'gate'.

The mill was originally painted white with green trim.  It was later that it was painted the red color that it is so famous for today.

A clear view of the gate used to control the water's flow.

Have a good chuckle on this image and the one above.  You can hear the dialogue, "Here, take this spot.  I am done with it and it is perfect."  Yes, it was.  Diane got a better representation of the fog that still covered the spring.  I got six extra windows!  It is just so much more fun being out with friends who share special spots with us.

Clear, cold water rise from deep within Alley Spring at an average daily flow of 81 million gallons.  The spring's basin is funneled shaped with a depth of 32 feet.  If there were more water restricted, the overflow would go down a creek to the right of this dam.  We explored that side as well.

The fog lasted for some time after we arrived.

There are slick rock walls at the back of the spring.  They seep water and support what appear to be hanging gardens of columbine and lush ferns. If you look carefully, you can see a trail that surrounds the spring.

This is the view if you are looking across the spring while standing beneath the rock wall shown earlier.

This is the stream fed by the overflow of water that does not go through the gate.  The streamoffered unlimited opportunities to get creative with one's camera!

And then the sunshine was just perfect for gold!!!!

While Tom and Diane mined gold I set out back along the trail looking for the flowers that earlier had been in light not conducive to photographing flowers.

Tom ventured even further down the path along the creek, finding even more interesting scenes.

Gold had turned to red!

Alley Spring was larger than most grist mills in the area.  It was a progressive business venture for its time and the complex machinery installed could only be provided by specialized factories such as Richmond City Mill Works.  Unfortunately, the mill was designed to process wheat flour in an area where corn was the predominant crop (strategic error).

The turbine seemed small to me!  The mill is not operational as Dillard's Mill is (another blog).  There are exhibits inside the mill where one can see the equipment and personnel are on site to explain the process and answer questions.

Add this site to your bucket list.  Tom and I are finding that Arkansas and Missouri have lots of treasures to photograph.

Grist Mills

People in the Ozarks made good use of the abundant water in the area, building grist mills that quickly became the centers of community life.  People would come from miles around a mill, bringing their grain and using the trip as an opportunity to socialize, catch up on news, purchase goods at a general store and get repairs done at a blacksmith shop. 

Dawt Mill was first on our grist mill tour.  Wow, were we disappointed.  We arrived to a scene of destruction, construction, noise, heavy duty equipment, furniture scattered everywhere, and men working in hard hats!!  The creek was behind a fence and barely visible.  There was no evidence of a mill that we could see.  We were not aware that this past April there was a huge flood in the area following many days of rain.  The water in the creek had risen to abut 15 feet above its normal high flow level and had taken out just abut everything and put it downstream.  The men working the site were in the process of trying to rebuild.  We took a photograph of the sign and drove away.  We have since learned that most mills have faced destruction from fire, floods and war (yep, both Union and Confederate soldiers were happy to destroy a mill so the other side could not use it).

Our second stop was at the Hodgson Mill.  Notice the ladder and pick up?  Guess what!  Closed due to flooding that occurred at Dawt Mill.  The gift shop on the second floor was flooded and mill equipment ruined.  Hodgson has not been a working mill for some time.  The mill has moved into modern facilities in Gainsville and we saw milled grain from the new mill in many grocery stores.  But . . . how long are you guys going to be here?  This was not the scene I wanted to capture!!!

The creek bed is just as it looks here.  Greener than green and so clear you just could not believe your eyes.

Tom and I have different post processing strategies!  If you look carefully you can see colors of the rainbow in the fine silk water.

About an hour after we arrived at the mill, the construction crew put their ladder away and drove off.  We were told we were welcome to stay and we did for a while.

This is where the water wheel would have been located.  It is under the mill.

We took off again, worried that we would find the same at Rockbridge Mill.  There is limited cell phone service in these parts of the Ozark Mountains so calling ahead was not an option.  We trusted we would find something.  Besides, we had planned to have lunch at the restaurant located next to the mill and they were highly rated for their fresh trout.

So, disappointment again.  Rockbridge is not a working mill.  Rather, it has found new life in being a community center for a different reason.  In this building there was a bar, a place to dance and hang out.  The restaurant was open and we had a fabulous lunch of fresh trout.

This might be considered the back side of the mill.  When the flood occurred it took out the bar and dance floor.  You can see the damaged side on the first floor.  It also damaged the fish hatchery further downstream.  While recovery is taking place, the bar is still not open for business.

This is the side facing the creek.  You can pick out some fishermen fly fishing for trout.  They have what is called 'catch and keep' permits.

This water is also very clear and quite green.

We asked if we could go into the bar area, even though it is under construction.  We wanted to be able to look down onto the pond and fishermen.

From above you can see the creek before it falls over the retaining wall.

Aha!!  I knew that he had something on his hook.  The line pulled taught.

He has his net ready.  Can you spot the trout?

Nice looking trout!

It was a long drive home, but worth it.  The day started out as a photo-adventure but when I returned home I started doing some serious research on grist mills.  I am so glad that I am not too old to learn.  Now I have a whole list of mills I want to visit!!!