This page is for education about and promotion of the historic Gaston's Mill in the Pioneer Village at Beaver Creek State Park
We are in need of your generous giving! The Friends of Beaver Creek State Park Pioneer Village, a 501c3 all volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation of the Pioneer Village, plans to completely restore the water powered Gaston's Mill water wheel by the end of the 2015 season. The Gaston's Mill, built in the 1830’s, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the few operating historic water driven grist mills in Ohio. Not only does it provide the Friends of Beaver Creek State Park with on site ground flours for fund raising through sales and ingredients for our pancake breakfasts, but especially when in operation, it is one of the main attractions of the pioneer village and the park. The only working part of the water wheel which does not require replacement is the wheel shaft. Within the year, all other sections including all of the buckets/troughs, spokes, inside barrel boards, outer and bottom bucket boards, and the rims will need to be replaced with white oak before the mill can be operated. Our organization is also responsible for the removal of the old parts at a cost of approximately $1000.00. If you have visited the mill this past summer you may have noticed that several of the buckets/troughs boards are rotting and some are shrinking out of the rim.
This historic restoration is a special skill and not able to be accomplished by the ordinary contractor and certainly not the amateur carpenter. Not only does accurate restoration require an experienced millwright it is also necessary to utilize specialty technology and specific building materials. The area builder who last worked on our wheel has retired. The quote for this project is a minimum of $29,000.00 from a qualified millwright. Only with lots of tender loving care will we be able to operate the mill this year and we have been assured that without this repair and restoration the mill wheel will not be able to function after 2015. We will happily accept your donation for the mill wheel repair if you send your check or money order to Friends of Beaver Creek State Park, PO Box 2063, East Liverpool, OH 43920. You can also donate at the Calcutta, Ohio Chase Bank or through our online Paypal Account ([email protected]) We greatly appreciate your support as we look at the enormous task ahead of us. THANK YOU!
All pictures and information on this page belong to the Friends of Beaver Creek and those who have shared their pictures with our group. Use of these pictures without permission is prohibited.
