Berry College Mill

Janie Oliver

Berry College Mill

Rome, Georgia

Featured in:

Berry School`s Old Mill

From the mill`s construction in 1930, students under the supervision of a miller used the Old Mill to produce corn meal and food stuffs for the Berry Schools. The Republic Mining and Manufacturing Company donated the iron hub, while students built the water wheel. At 42 feet in diameter, this is one of the nation`s largest overshot waterwheels. Berry`s reservoir lake supplies water to the wheel. Gravity pushes water up the stone column and over the wheel, turning it. The old Mill has been preserved as a testament to the practical training Martha Berry incorporated into her schools.

[2002.6 Erected by The Georgia Historical Society and Berry College 57-3]

Constructed in 1930, the Old Mill boasts an iron hub which had originally been of service at Hermitage, an early manufacturing community near the Shannon village between Rome and Calhoun, Georgia, and was a gift to Berry from The Republic Mining (bauxite) and Manufacturing Company. Henry Ford had the hub moved to Berry where the wheel was rebuilt.

The wooden overshot waterwheel, considered one of the largest in the world at 42 feet in diameter, was constructed by student workers. For many years, the mill was operated by Mr. Green Berry Goodson, a white-bearded miller who ground Berry-grown corn into meal and grits. Water is piped directly from Berry’s reservoir lake to the wheel. Once primed, the force of gravity is strong enough to push the water up the stone column, and over the wheel, causing it to turn.

During 1977 the wheel was completely rebuilt as a cooperative project involving Berry students, staff, alumni, and friends, and was dedicated to the memory of Mr. Gordon Keown on June 3, 1978. Mr. Keown was an alumnus of Berry, a long-time staff member and acting director of the Berry Schools from 1942-1944.

During 1985, physical plant staff and student volunteers restored the mechanism and made grinding of corn meal once again possible.

Berry College Mill belongs to the following groups:

! $$☻The Christmas Shop (Get Art Promoted)☺ !, "Old Things - 3 per Day", "Streams & Stream Crossings" 2 posts a day!, BARNS & Old Grist Mills and Covered Bridges from around the World!, Cards: Best of Your Best, Georgia - The Peach State (unique locations in GA only), Georgia Artists Revealed, Historic Places *2 per day*, Light and Reflection 1/24, Mills & Mines, Rural Around The Globe and The Addicted Photographer►2 Per Day◄ Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
Berry College Mill by Janie Oliver
Berry College Mill by Janie Oliver

Add your comment

You need to login or signup to add your comment to this work.

Tags:

georgia and grist mill