Keep the Millstone Moving!

We need your help to Keep the Millstone Moving at Watson’s Mill!

Have you ever enjoyed a freshly baked loaf of bread from the Mill? Or had the opportunity to see, hear and feel the building come alive? Our original 1860s millstone and water turbines are the key pieces of equipment that allows us to bring these experiences to our guests who visit from the local community, across Canada and abroad.

Working closely with our Head Miller and our knowledgeable millwright, Jack Forsberg, Watson’s Mill Manotick Inc has developed a long-term maintenance plan to address restoration needs at Watson’s Mill. However, in the summer of 2023, it became evident that our millstone would need urgent attention as soon as possible. Before we do any of our other planned restoration work, we absolutely need to address the millstone. And to do that, we need your help.

Here’s what we need to do to Keep the Millstone Moving:

- Start from the ground up!

First, we need to make sure that the timbers and structures underneath the millstone are on a solid footing. We need to strengthen the foundation and the timber that supports the main grindstone before we can do anything else. CHECK! This was completed by our restoration team in the Fall of 2023

(Did you know that by fixing the foundation, the floor was lifted back up by 3 inches? That means every other piece of equipment connected to the mill stone also needs to be jacked up and realigned.)

- Fix up the Frame.

The frame supporting the millstone has been shifting. In 2023, this meant that the millstone ran into some problems causing ceasing and stalling. Additionally, due to the foundation slowly shifting over the years, the main cast iron drive lines for the millstone’s lift arm and turbine control gate have begun to bow and warp. We need to straighten these drivelines to relieve pressure on the surrounding supports and equipment, improve function and avoid future wear. We will also be replacing the wooden bearings on the drive lines and adding lubrication systems to ensure smooth operation for years to come!

Fun Fact: All of our cast-iron drive lines are actually hand-forged! If you look closely you can still see the tool marks.

- (Stop) Grinding Our Gears.

There are a series of cast iron and wooden-tooth gears connected to the turbine and drive shaft that power the millstone. Some of these gears have worn, chipped or missing teeth. We need to properly fix and outfit the gears so that we have enough power to move our 2000 lbs millstone and lift the control gate that activates the turbine..

- Crank it up.

Did you know that the millstone must be lifted and lowered during the milling process? There’s a special arm mechanism that lifts the stone, but after years of wear and tear it needs some TLC. Similarly, the pinion gear for the gate that opens and closes the turbine, which connects up to the control wheel on the main floor to control the flow of water also have missing teeth that need to be replaced and drive shafts that must be made level.

- Finding our Balance

Over the years, the misalignment of the foundation has led the grindstones to become unleveled. Not only does this cause ceasing and stalling during milling, but it has also caused wear on the face of the stones and on the pin that the runner stone sits on (can you believe that the top millstone is balanced on a small, iron pin that is roughly the size of a thumb?!). In order to get the stones running balanced again, the pin will have to be re-shaped and the faces of both millstones need to be leveled and re-dressed.

It’s a long to-do list, but we know we can make it all happen with your help! Donate today to keep the mill stone moving, the flour grinding, and the bread baking.

For updates on the work being done, follow @WatsonsMillManotick on Facebook and Instagram and our amazing millwright Jack Forsberg at @JackEnglishMachines on Instagram , TikTok and Youtube and @jgforsberg on Facebook !

We want to thank everyone who is able to help support us through donations, follows, likes and shares!