THE PALMER MILL
The mill is located some distance from a small stream that serves as its water source. But upstream is a small mill pond that collects water from various springs which connects to a channel leading to the mill's race.
On the day we visited the little mill pond was overflowing.
The old mill race had collapsed from disrepair still funneled water to the wheel. It is not likely the waterwheel works but all the parts are there.
It was hard to leave the Palmer Mill as there were so many different and interesting angles from which to photograph the old mill and the mill pond. The swift flowing stream and the springs exploding from the hillside were very picturesque.
The old mill site is a wonderful addition to this small community of 2200. This is a great small park where I am sure hosts many community events.
There were two locomotives and a caboose. All immaculately preserved in the center of a downtown park.
Gorgeous pictures of the Palmer Mill. It's so nice to see it preserved in such great condition.
ReplyDeleteCheck out Mathieson Alkali Company and the Muck Dam collapse of 1924 if you've never heard of it. This is what Wikipedia says about it.
"Saltville was the location of the infamous "Muck Dam" break on December 24, 1924, which allowed the release of a huge volume of liquid chemical waste (stored there by the Mathieson Alkali Company) into the north fork of the Holston River taking the lives of nineteen people who lived along the river.[14] The river remained polluted and virtually dead for several decades afterward.[15][16][17][18]"
My husband's Grandaddy built the water wheel. It breaks my heart that the town isn't keeping this place up. It was once a beautiful place.
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