Repair for Gate
Posted By The Miller on February 1, 2010
When I first built the big gate … I bought a 2 ton hoist to operate it. The gate only weighs around 550 #s. However, when the head race is full of water there is a lot of hydraulic pressure on the gate. So, I used the big hoist and an old metal axle I found in the mill. I built the frame with 2 X 8 in. oak and drilled holes for the iron bar to slide into. As you can see in the photo the iron bar (solid) bent. It also cracked the oak frame slightly. Jay Scrivhor designed and built the new piece in the photo. When it warmes up I will install it. It should support the oak and not bend like the metal bar did.
Thanks Jay
Mike Roe
The mill is closed for the winter … we still do mail order. And, we are doing a farmer’s market in Indianapolis on Saturdays. Yes, it is indoors. Today, Sunday - 27th of Dec…… We went sledding with the grand kids. On this run I told Karen I was going to get to the bottom of the hill before her. The sled turned around and she got to the bottom first ! ? ! ? !
Here is Chris (Our oldest son) helping me with the work. I am pushing the broken concrete and rocks away from the fallen wall. I’m also trying to direct the water away from the work area.
Here I am with the jack hammer again. Maybe I should have bought one years ago. The water in the creek went down so I diverted it away from the concrete wall I found lying in the creek and started hammering on it.
As the water washes out more dirt I see more and more of the bedrock and ……. stuff. I am looking for a channel. Hansel (Former owner of the mill (1938 - 41) blasted out a channel with dynamite so he could get more horsepower. I know where it should be but it was under about 6 ft. of dirt.
Someone kicked a few boards off the covered bridge so they could grab the Christmas wreath. It was 8 ft. tall. Since we have restored the mill dam and mill pond the only way to get to the wreath was from the inside. Fortunately the boards didn’t fall into the creek. The county was able to fix it. I have contacted the media … 2 newspapers and 2 TV stations. I have heard other newspapers and TV stations have picked up the story. Hopefully someone will see the wreath. I think an 8 ft. Christmas wreath is easy to see.
Larry and Pete stopped by to give rides to folks. Well … they didn’t give them away! Covered Bridge Christmas was very good this year (last weekend of Nov and the first weekend of Dec.) … lots of folks came to stock up on Bridgeton Mill’s fresh stone ground products. They know we will be closed until spring.
This is a photo taken by the Indianapolis News just after we bought the place. The only time there was water on the south side of the creek was during a flood. This brought in lots of dirt, mud, sand …etc. The south side silted in and there was grass, weeds, bushes and trees growing below the mill. There was no mill pond, it was full of dirt, weeds …etc. Shortly after this photo was taken part of the foundation collapsed on the mill. We have come a long way since 1995. Karen and I would like to thank all the folks that encouraged and help us. We could not have done this without them.
The dam and mill pond are functional …… I could repair the waterpower. But, Karen says I have to pay for all the work we’ve done first. This winter I plan to do lots of research into hydroelectric.
This is a photo from the mill window. The finished dam, waterfall and mill pond are wonderful. I get to look at this everyday. When I’m mixing and bagging product I can’t quite here the customers …. the waterfall is so loud. I tell the folks I’m gona turn down the volume and I shut the window near me.