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The millstones are the heart of Bear's Mill. During the heyday of gristmills, a pair of good stones would cost as much as $6,000. Understandably, they were treated with care, and never allowed to become dull or out of balance as either one of these faults would cause premature wearing of the stone. Sharpening millstones was an art in itself and a ten year apprenticeship was not uncommon. It took a two year journey to France for Gabriel Baer to bring the three imported French Buhr Stones to Bear's Mill. 
The French Buhr were much sought after by old world millers for their abrasive and porous qualities, which resulted in slow, cool grinding process. This process prevents unnecessary destruction of valuable nutrients- something modern milling today cannot claim. The grinding of the grain has been taking place for centuries with the first millstone being a flat rock against which man pounded to crush the grain.
Innovation and invention through the years led man to discover that better grinding could be accomplished by revolving an upper stone against a lower stationary one. The greatest improvements in the milling industry were made between 1784 and 1884, the reason being that until then, and only in this country, were millers permitted to own their own mills. Competition acted as a stimulus and the mechanical genius of the millwright and miller became apparent. Milling in Ohio first began around the time of the Greenville Treaty, 1790, with the first mill built in Washington County near Marietta. The first gristmills were constructed under hazardous conditions and with great difficulty because of the constant threat of Indian attacks. However, the need of the settlers were so urgent that many persisted in building the mills. Not until General "Mad Anthony" Wayne defeated the Indians did the construction of mills keep pace with the advance of pioneer settlements and millers were available to grind corn into meal and wheat into flour.
Mills were sometimes built in unusual locations to take advantage of exceptional sources of water power. Many were located in tight little valleys or on edges of cliffs. Those built in the flatlands usually required a long mill race to gain sufficient fall of water to provide the necessary power. Usually saw mills were built first for obvious reasons. |
