George Washington's mill gains a waterwheel 🌍

The reconstructed grist mill at the site of the mill built for George Washington in 1774-6 in Pennsylvania, has recently gained a waterwheel, added 4 years after the mill itself was rebuilt.

The original mill was built by Gilbert Simpson, Washington's business partner. It was worked by Israel Shreve, and after Washington's death passed to Israel's heirs. Worked until 1918, a storm in 1936 caused the mill to collapse.

Work in 1992 rebuilt the foundations of the mill, using some of the original building stone, and in 1999 the reconstruction was reopened, but lack of money and skilled labour prevented installation of a waterwheel. These obstacles have been overcome now, with a 18ft wheel of white oak built by Rick Komency of Wisconsin, using a shaft from a West Virginia mill, at a cost of $18,900.