The Grist Mill / Blacksmith Shop (2015)

Today we’re looking at a structure built as a wind-powered grist mill, but never used in that capacity or even completed. It’s unique in form, with an almost European flavour and last functioned as a blacksmith shop on the farm. Come join us as we explore it and the the property. The building is something else and there’s old cars to see too.

Wispy clouds on this fine day, make the perfect backdrop for another fun adventure. We’re in Central Alberta, out on a remote backroad, and exploring something special.

This post dates back to early 2016 and was lost to a recent database “incident” (<-- understatement). A crash of epic proportions, it made a mess of all articles from 2012 to 2016. Instead of restoring from backups, select ones will be reworked, updated and reposted. The older ones needed a do-over treatment anyway. We'll archive anything no longer relevant in today's world, and that's a lot of our earlier stuff.

We’re going to be a bit vague with names or locations in this post and it’s done to protect the property. A big thanks to Tom for allowing us the chance to see it and for their guidance with the subsequent research.

Grist Mills (alt: Gristmills, or Feed Mills) turn grain into flour or meal. It’s done by grinding, using a rotating stone traditionally, or rollers, and the mechanism to do this can be water, wind, animal or motor/engine driven. They’re a noisy and dusty place.

The farm here dates to 1913 and this corresponds with the time the railway opened up the region to settlement. Of course, people lived the area before, earlier homesteaders scattered here and there, and for eons, First Nations folks.

The first person here worked the the land until about 1918 and then sold it to another. The second, along with wife and kids, lived and farmed here until the mid-1920s, when the family of the current owner took possession.

Records suggest the first owner built the grist mill and if so, this makes it close to a century old (as of 2015, when first posted). He also built the house just behind. That dwelling is a small and unassuming clapboard covered, single level affair. It’s said the fellow was a skilled carpenter and most certainly it would take a great deal of talent to construct the complex mill. The house, perhaps not so much.

The grist mill’s steeply pitched intersecting gable roof, overhanging eaves and that tapered tower, must have been a real challenge to make. They say this person also had had a part in helping construct many other buildings in the area and based on all this, he was capable.

Inside, four timbers, heavy and beefy, were there to help support the milling mechanism. Presumably there would have been a round grinding stone driven by a vertical shaft here, and powered by the blades far above. How the blades and drive system were to be setup is unknown, but to move a stone we suspect it’d all have to be substantial.

During later research, we learned the mill was never finished, so there are no answers to any questions above. They installed no machinery, despite building the structure.

One has to wonder the intent of this person. Did they have hopes to sell the output to other settlers or did they just want a LOT of flour for themselves? A grist mill of this size would make more than any typical family needed, so the former seems likely.

That work on the mill stopped suggests a number of possibilities. Perhaps the design was later found to be flawed, finishing it proved beyond their abilities, or maybe they just gave up. Would the wind blow enough for it to work? It was dead calm on our visit, but here on the prairies weather can change quickly, so it’s hard to say.

The current land owner’s uncle and family lived on the property for some time (starting late 1920s recall). This is when the (unfinished and disused mill) became a blacksmith and metal working shop. They could repair or even fabricate parts as needed. Scattered about the building are bits off who knows what and much scrap metal.

A metal drum on the outside and above the door was a water-filled cistern to for use in case of a fire. A hose once lead from it down to the work area. With the building being all wood and those hot coals, the risk was great and understandably they needed to plan for such an occurrence. A cinder block stand topped by a thick cement slab was the location of the hearth.

Scattered about the interior are various racks, storage shelves and hooks to hang whatever from. More metal parts litter the floor. A repurposed truck grain-box beside the grist mill functioned as a storage shed. Reusing stuff like this is a play right out of the frugal farmer’s handbook.

It’s believed the property was lived in until the 1960s and the blacksmith shop used for a time after. A lot of years have passed since and memories become a bit cloudy. What ever the case, it’s stood empty for some time. The current owners still farm the land here, as the family has done for close to 100 years.

The old house is pretty much empty, it’s collapsing and not long for this world. It’s a modest dwelling for sure…heck it would be down right cramped if more than one or two people lived in it. Across the yard are some vintage wood granaries and they’re a part of every old farm yard it seems.

We notice a partly crushed Mercedes under a fallen building. Our vehicle IDing skills are hardly sharp, and it’s made worse given most of the car is hard to view, but it seems to be a 1965-1968 200 or 230 series. At best, that’s a guess.

Still, it has that distinctive bulbus shape and prominent grill that makes it instantly recognizable as a Mercedes. We surmise it probably wasn’t in bad shape before the building came down on it.

Directly beside the grist mill is a 1966 Ford Galaxie. It’s a giant chunk of Detroit metal, a land barge of extreme dimensions and seats about about 35! Or something close. Both it and the Mercedes were once family rides placed here when retired. Old farm yards often become the resting place for many unwanted vehicles. Park it and forget it.

Scattered about the property are other bits of machinery and this is hardly unusual for old farm yards. With metal recycling centres far away, you simply find an unused corner of a property and plop them there. A solitary light pole still stands and once provided illumination for the yard. Off in the distance is a lake, no doubt shallow as they often are on the prairies, and come summer a giant mosquito factory.

We’ve been back to the site a couple times since this visit and in some ways, it’s much as it was. The Mercedes got moved beside the grist mill for a time and later vanished completely. The old truck grain box/shed is similarly gone now. Still, the grist mill building remains and it’s a reminder of a time long passed.

These photos came from cameras not fully up to the task and we’ve since moved on to better gear. Still, we have a cobbled together mess of Franken-gear, made up of of second hand and donated bits.

Know more about these buildings work (new tab): What is a Grist Mill.

They’re saying…

“Can we all take a moment to appreciate how great this website is?” Monica & Leslie (such kind words).

Random awesomeness…
Forgotten Coal Town Cemetery.
Down by the Tracks in Coronation Alberta.
The Sidewalks of 10th Ave S Cranbrook.

Something to say and no one to say it to? Go here: Contact Us!

Date of adventure: October 2015.
Article references and thanks: Thomas H, Larry A, Daniel M and local history books.

Built as a grist mill, but never used in that capacity.

Instead it functioned as a blacksmith shop for years.

Looking up the central tower.

The hearth was located on this concrete slab.

Crushed and it’s since been removed.

It would have been a challenge to build.

Seen in 2015 and close to 100 years old at the time.

A former family ride.

Scrap metal underfoot.

The drum held water in case of a fire.

The old farm house is small and overgrown.

It’s one of the more unique structures we’ve ever explored.