A few years ago I came across a brochure titled Putnam Rocks: Restoring Our Cultural Kinship, put together by the Putnam County Historical Preservation Advisory Committee. I don’t recall where I found it. But I got from it a number of leads – it led me to Susan Allport’s book Sermons in Stone, which I have mentioned in previous blogs.
The booklet also mentioned that a grist mill stone was used in the construction of the Mahopac Falls branch of the Mahopac National Bank. I tucked that little fact in the back of my mind, hoping one stay to take a look for myself.
What is a gristmill stone, you ask? Well, back before there was Walmart, just-in-time inventory systems, interstate highways and transportation, and mass production of food, the business of food was very local. Farmers would grown corn, grain, etc. and take it to the local mill, where it would be ground between two large stones turned into meal or flour. The bottom stone was called the “bed” and the top stone was called the “runner”. Take a few minutes and you can read more about the functioning of a gristmill at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gristmill#Classical_British_and_American_mills
Nowadays, these stones are sought after by many history buffs. They sell for thousands of dollars each, just take a look at websites such as www.millstones.com to see what I am talking about.
So back to the story. A weekend or two ago, I found myself in the area of Mahopac Falls so I stopped by the bank and snapped the below pics, taken of the chimney in the rear of the building.
When I got home and reviewed the Putnam Rocks booklet, their picture if different than mine. I did an internet search, and it seems the stone they are referencing in built into the steps at the entrance to the bank. So what I found is either an additional stone, or a replica – or some other explanation. Regardless, tuck this trivia in the back of your mind, and next time you’re in the area, stop by and decide for yourself.
The bank is located next to the Red Mills Historical Park, which as of this writing seems to undergoing some renovation. It’s a neat, quite little park that offers a nice place to picnic or get a local history lesson. There is more info on our webpage for Red Mills Historic Park.
Sources:
Personal visit 7/4/14.
-Putnam Rocks: Restoring Our Cultural Kinship, put together by the Putnam County Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (written by Eugene Boesch, Barbara Bosch, Patricia Kaufman, Judith Kelly-Moberg & Allan Warnecke.
-http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/31/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-of-living-in-mahopac.html, accessed 7/10/14.
-http://www.aheadworld.org/2014/02/09/red-mills-park-mahopac-ny/, accessed 7/10/14.
-www.millstones.com, accessed 7/10/14.
–http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gristmill#Classical_British_and_American_mills, accessed 7/10/14.