Painter Mill / Bernatz Mill - Winneshiek Co. Iowa

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Painter Mill / Bernatz Mill
Mill No: Ia-96-01-Painter-BernatzMill

State -	Iowa
County -	Winneshiek Co.
Township -	u/k
Year -	1851
Water Source -	Upper Iowa River.

Pictures by: 08/26/04 Jim Miller - The 4.5 story limestone and frame flour mill was built in 1851 by William Painter. Originally, the mill was located on the banks of the Upper Iowa River; but in 1946, the Corp of Engineers altered the course of the river so that now, the mill is several blocks south of the existing flow. *Update: The mill was never on the banks of the Upper Iowa. Though true the river was diverted, there was a mill race that ran the grind stones, not the actually river itself. The second owner, Bernatz, built a dam and mill race just west of the current day College Drive bridge. There are still a few remains of that dam still there. The mill race flowed from the dam, to the mill, and then curved left towards the river again. It was the mill race and the river that made what is called

Picture: 08/26/04 Jim Miller The 4.5 story limestone and frame flour mill was built in 1851 by William Painter. Originally, the mill was located on the banks of the Upper Iowa River; but in 1946, the Corp of Engineers altered the course of the river so that now, the mill is several blocks south of the existing flow. *Update: The mill was never on the banks of the Upper Iowa. Though true the river was diverted, there was a mill race that ran the grind stones, not the actually river itself. The second owner, Bernatz, built a dam and mill race just west of the current day College Drive bridge. There are still a few remains of that dam still there. The mill race flowed from the dam, to the mill, and then curved left towards the river again. It was the mill race and the river that made what is called "Goose Island". Jason Rude 04/13/2006*

Pictures by: 08/26/04 Jim Miller - Believed to be the oldest building in Decorah, the mill was water powered by the Upper Iowa River, then by diesel after the levee system was installed. At one time around the turn of the 20th century, the mill was known as the Heivly Flour and Feed Mill.

Picture: 08/26/04 Jim Miller Believed to be the oldest building in Decorah, the mill was water powered by the Upper Iowa River, then by diesel after the levee system was installed. At one time around the turn of the 20th century, the mill was known as the Heivly Flour and Feed Mill.

Pictures by: 08/26/04 Jim MIller - Built of fossiliferous Ordavician limestone, the mill had a hip roof in 1885, but acquired the upper story clerestory in 1890. An infestation of wheat blight and other insect blights about 1890 greatly affected the planting of wheat throughout the Midwest, basically haulting wheat production. The mill continued to grind corn and buckwheat, however. A switch was made in the 20th century to production of livestock feeds and custom mixting & grinding of feeds. This continued until the mill closed in 1964.

Picture: 08/26/04 Jim MIller Built of fossiliferous Ordavician limestone, the mill had a hip roof in 1885, but acquired the upper story clerestory in 1890. An infestation of wheat blight and other insect blights about 1890 greatly affected the planting of wheat throughout the Midwest, basically haulting wheat production. The mill continued to grind corn and buckwheat, however. A switch was made in the 20th century to production of livestock feeds and custom mixting & grinding of feeds. This continued until the mill closed in 1964.

Pictures by: 08/26/04 Jim Miller - The mill was restored in 1971, becoming a part of the Vesterheim Norwegian/American Museum. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Picture: 08/26/04 Jim Miller The mill was restored in 1971, becoming a part of the Vesterheim Norwegian/American Museum. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Picture: 08/26/04 JIm MIller

Directions: Take exit Co. 20/Pole Line Road off US 52 at the NW section of Decorah and procede east about 0.6 miles. Turn right on College Ave./Co. 20 and go south for about 1.5 miles, turning right onto Heivly St. The mill is at Heivly and N. Mill Sts.

"And one of them , when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks."
Luke 17:15 NKJV

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