gager's mill, Off Loehr Road

Mill remnants,Courtesy of Bernard and Jeanette Loehr

Waterway: Upper Gager’s Brook      

Water power: Overshot wheel 

Mill type: Saw mill and source of ice for family and commercial purposes

Additional Purposes: Family recreation swimming, skating, and some fishing

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History: Constructed in the early 1800s, the mill site had its demise in 1947 during construction of Route 15 when the size of the mill pond was reduced significantly. The size was further reduced in size with the latest expansion of Interstate 84. The dam had been located in what is now the median of the highway.

Ice house Mill remnants, courtesy of Bernard and Jeanette Loehr

Ice being loaded for delivery, courtesy of Bernard and Jeanette Loehr

Site Characteristics: The mill consisted of two main components – a saw mill and an ice house. Due to the small size of the stream, another small dam was constructed about 450 feet upstream to provide addition water in storage for power. An old wagon trail along the river used to service the saw mill and ice house can still be located along the river. A team of horse was used to transport the ice.

Additional Sources of Information:  “Lost Mill Sites in Tolland, Connecticut,” 2013, by Richard N. Symonds, Jr.

Wheel remnants, courtesy of Bernard and Jeanette Loehr

Mill pond ccourtesy of Bernard and Jeanette Loehr

Moving fill for highway, courtesy of Bernard and Jeanette Loehr

Filling pond for highway expansion, courtesy of Bernard and Jeanette Loehr