Mingus Mill Near Cherokee, NC In The Greats Smoky Mountains National Park by Discover The Smokies

MINGUS MILL
(20 Pages / 24 Pictures)

Located just a short distance past the Oconaluftee Visitor Center / Mountain Farm Museum is the MINGUS MILL! The current mill built in 1886 by Sion Early, a millwright from VA, for six hundred dollars, (His initials 'STE' are cut into the front gable just under the eaves) actually replaced a worn out mill powered by a waterwheel, built n the 1790's by the Mingus family, who owned it until in the 1930's when the National Park acquired it. It was a 'custom mill' catering to each customers personal preference. Parts of this mill were replaced in 1937, again in1968, as parts that get wet then dry then wet again are subject to rot. Notice is has already been running beyond the 31 year span that required replacing rotted parts, possibly due to more modern pressure treated or better known was of preserving wood. The mill operates during the summer as a historical exhibit.

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The MINGUS MILL has ample parking available, the trail to the mill starts out as a paved path leading through the woods, but unfortunately the mill itself crosses Mingus Creek (which splits upstream to power the mill) on a log bridge, therefore making it not very wheelchair friendly,<sigh>.

THE MINGUS MILL
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MINGUS MILL was skillfully built primarily out of yellow poplar, and some of his bonus 'touches' included chamfered posts, meticulously trimmed, etc., and if you look close you will see the doors, sills and other structure still functional and preserved, even with a hundred year of vibrations caused by the turbine/mill stones. Notice how many mills used a 'Dutch Door' which not only allowed fresh air and natural light in, but also, when closed, kept out children, dogs, etc. The door leading to the upstairs of loft separated the wholesale operations of the mill, along with facilitating easy loading of sacks of meal on wagons. What you WONT see is a traditional water wheel! This mill is powered by a turbine manufactured by the James Leffel and company which builds turbines from home size to huge hydroelectric plant sizes. This turbine operates by water moving through its vanes, deveoping eleven horsepower at 400 RPM, rotating a vertical shaft that powers all the machinery in the mill, along with taking less space than a water wheel. lower maintenance and less expensive.

	See External Views Of Mingus Mill!
	Go Inside & See The Main Level Of The Mill!
	Go Inside UPSTAIRS To The Mill's LOFT!
	See The Millrace That Carries The Water To The Mill!
	See The Flume That Carries Water To The Millrace!

Acts 13:50