stiles' mill, moose meadow and liska road
Breached Dam
Waterway: Fenton River
Water power: Overshot wheel
Mill type: Saw and grist mill
Water power: Overshot wheel
Mill type: Saw and grist mill
History: This is believed to be one of the older sites in Willington and its construction may have been as early as 1763. It was first constructed as a grist mill. One historical report indicated that “Stiles mill on the Fenton washed away in 1772.” There were a number of owners of the site and millers that operated the mill. Among the owners were Caleb Johnson in 1757; Soloman Orcutt who operated a corn mill at this location between 1776 – 1773; Origin Dimock, who operated a saw and grist mill at the site from1825 to 1857 and he also made “Palm Leaf Hats;” and Philo Wright operated the grist mill from 1865 to 1900. At this writing, additional information has been located. It will be added when verified
Site Characteristics: This site is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Moose Meadow and Liska Road on property owned by the Bittner family. Over the years the dam has been breached and rebuilt a number of times with questions remaining as to whether the dam remnants are in the original location. Significant damage with periodic flooding over the years has destroyed much of the evidence required to accurately reconstruct the site.
The remnants today are similar to what was found on 1934 aerial maps so that many clues were lost in previous generations. What is known is that there are building remnants on both sides of the river and evidence of a 275 foot race with conflicting evidence whether termination of the tail race was below Liska Road or further downstream. Although the race was filled in during the 1970s in conjunction with the construction of a residential building, the race is still discernible. The race could have served as an emergency spillway or to provide power to the mill from the race. The topography is such that an undershot wheel could have provided power to the mill or a wheel pit at the dam location could support an overshot wheel. From the building remnants the mill may have even extended over the river below the dam at some point in time.
Question remains as to why there was such a long sluiceway serving as a tail race. Was there a secondary purpose? About 300 yards downstream, there appeared to be another head race and some foundation remnants close to the river. Could there been additional mill buildings served by the dam? Enough information could not be gleaned from an on-site inspection for a definitive conclusion.
Additional Sources of Information: Upcoming book on Willington’s Lost Mill Sites
Site Characteristics: This site is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Moose Meadow and Liska Road on property owned by the Bittner family. Over the years the dam has been breached and rebuilt a number of times with questions remaining as to whether the dam remnants are in the original location. Significant damage with periodic flooding over the years has destroyed much of the evidence required to accurately reconstruct the site.
The remnants today are similar to what was found on 1934 aerial maps so that many clues were lost in previous generations. What is known is that there are building remnants on both sides of the river and evidence of a 275 foot race with conflicting evidence whether termination of the tail race was below Liska Road or further downstream. Although the race was filled in during the 1970s in conjunction with the construction of a residential building, the race is still discernible. The race could have served as an emergency spillway or to provide power to the mill from the race. The topography is such that an undershot wheel could have provided power to the mill or a wheel pit at the dam location could support an overshot wheel. From the building remnants the mill may have even extended over the river below the dam at some point in time.
Question remains as to why there was such a long sluiceway serving as a tail race. Was there a secondary purpose? About 300 yards downstream, there appeared to be another head race and some foundation remnants close to the river. Could there been additional mill buildings served by the dam? Enough information could not be gleaned from an on-site inspection for a definitive conclusion.
Additional Sources of Information: Upcoming book on Willington’s Lost Mill Sites
Breached Dam and Mill Remnants
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Tail Race/Sluiceway. Photo courtesy of Robert Bittner
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