Geci’s (Mill at Geci’s), West of Crystal Lake Rd. (Route 30)
Waterway: Grant’s Brook
Water power: Overshot wheel
Mill type: Saw mill and hydroelectric power
Water power: Overshot wheel
Mill type: Saw mill and hydroelectric power
History This was an on-stream site that was built well before the 1930s and most likely closer to the turn of the century It was reported that there was a saw mill in this location that may have been associated with the building of the trolley line. A trolley stop on the trolley line that ran between Rockville and Stafford Springs was in proximity to a mill site
The proximity of the stop and dam sites suggests that the site may have been used for generating DC power for the trolley line. It would have been in an appropriate location for a supplemental power source as DC power would not travel great distances. There would have been a need to have an additional power source between Rockville and Stafford Springs. If these assumptions are correct construction of the pond would have been before or shortly after the turn of the century as the trolley operated between 1911 and 1928.
Site Characteristics: Being on a small brook, the main mill pond was supported to two small dams immediately upstream. The lower dam had a stone dam with a stone spillway. It also had an earthen sluiceway on the south side of the dam that was characteristic of the method used in Tolland to bring water to a mill. The three retaining structures suggest that it had sufficient water to supply a small mill.
The proximity of the stop and dam sites suggests that the site may have been used for generating DC power for the trolley line. It would have been in an appropriate location for a supplemental power source as DC power would not travel great distances. There would have been a need to have an additional power source between Rockville and Stafford Springs. If these assumptions are correct construction of the pond would have been before or shortly after the turn of the century as the trolley operated between 1911 and 1928.
Site Characteristics: Being on a small brook, the main mill pond was supported to two small dams immediately upstream. The lower dam had a stone dam with a stone spillway. It also had an earthen sluiceway on the south side of the dam that was characteristic of the method used in Tolland to bring water to a mill. The three retaining structures suggest that it had sufficient water to supply a small mill.