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Millpictures.com > Listings >Missouri>Shannon Co.

Alley Spring Mill
Mill No: Mo-101-01-AlleySpringMill


Official Mill Website:
www.nps.gov/ozar/history.htm

State -

Missouri
County -

Shannon Co.
Township -

Eminence Twp.
Year -

Earlier mill 1870, present mill 1894.
Water Source -

Alley Spring Branch.
 

George Washington McCaskill built the current mill as a merchant mill using a 35
George Washington McCaskill built the current mill as a merchant mill using a 35" Leffel turbine as the springs power-capturing device. John Knott bought the mill and springs in an 80 acre parcel in 1902. He added a store and blacksmith shop and added corn meal to be ground as well as wheat. This fact, that the mill was designed for wheat flour production using rollers; while the area served was primarily a corn growing locale, corn being ground at that time usually with runs of stones, was a major engineering flaw that precipitated the mills demise as a economical enterprise.


Four more ownership transfers occurred in the next few years; the last being the creation of the Crystal Springs Town Site, brought about by Conrad Hug's purchase of much of the surrounding area and the mill and spring proper. The resort designed for city folk as a retreat didn't last long. Logging had stripped the hills, resulting in the railroads pulling out and much of the population also. Hug sold 400+ acres to the newly formed Missouri State Parks System and the park opened in 1925. It became part of the National Park Service in 1971 and now part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, administered by the NPS.
Four more ownership transfers occurred in the next few years; the last being the creation of the Crystal Springs Town Site, brought about by Conrad Hug's purchase of much of the surrounding area and the mill and spring proper. The resort designed for city folk as a retreat didn't last long. Logging had stripped the hills, resulting in the railroads pulling out and much of the population also. Hug sold 400+ acres to the newly formed Missouri State Parks System and the park opened in 1925. It became part of the National Park Service in 1971 and now part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, administered by the NPS.


Alley Spring Mill is built at the former Barksdale Spring, now known as Alley Spring, the name changed when John Alley settled in the area. The average flow from the spring is 84 million gal/day or 130 cfs. A one time peak flow was recorded on April 22, 1974 of 1.7 billion gal or 2750 cfs. The opening and closing of the fins on the turbine controls the flow through the mill, although the spring flow remains fairly constant.
Alley Spring Mill is built at the former Barksdale Spring, now known as Alley Spring, the name changed when John Alley settled in the area. The average flow from the spring is 84 million gal/day or 130 cfs. A one time peak flow was recorded on April 22, 1974 of 1.7 billion gal or 2750 cfs. The opening and closing of the fins on the turbine controls the flow through the mill, although the spring flow remains fairly constant.


The mill was unpainted at first, then painted white with green trim. In 1940, much to the dismay of the townspeople, the mill was painted red; becoming known from thereafter also as the Red Mill. The grounds contains the store and Storey's Creek one-room school that was moved to the site from its original location. The mill is open 10:00 to 4:30 daily Memorial Day through Labor Day. No admission charge.
The mill was unpainted at first, then painted white with green trim. In 1940, much to the dismay of the townspeople, the mill was painted red; becoming known from thereafter also as the Red Mill. The grounds contains the store and Storey's Creek one-room school that was moved to the site from its original location. The mill is open 10:00 to 4:30 daily Memorial Day through Labor Day. No admission charge.




Directions: Located 6 miles west on Sh 106 of the town of Eminence, Missouri at Mo 19. The mill is on the north side of the highway at Alley Springs Mill, part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

"But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. and the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him."
Psalm 37:39 & 40 NKJV



 

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