CHATHAM – A mill that has been in operation since 1832 received a new water wheel the morning of Dec. 3 as part of an ongoing restoration project. The Old Mill is used to grind grain and create pancake mix, whole wheat, buckwheat and corn meal. Neighborhood residents watched as the water wheel was lifted off of the back of a truck by a crane and slowly placed into the creek nearby.

Sarah Bistline currently owns the mill with her husband, Norm. She said it was originally a saw mill up until 1877 when it became a grist mill.

“In 1896, that mill blew up and they built this one,” she explained. “We’ve been restoring it since 1992.”

Norm Bistline had been building the new water wheel for the past two years. The wheel is 15 feet in circumference and eight feet wide. It is made entirely of steel except for the wooden paddles.

Sarah said Norm has restored about 80 percent of the mill since the restoration project started 24 years ago.

“When he got the mill from his parents, it was ready to fall down,” she recalled. “My in-laws bought the mill in 1959 from Clem Rice.”

Philip Rice, Clem’s grandfather, was the original owner of the mill. When he found the mill site and built the mill, he used it as a lumber mill. Philip’s son, John Rice, took over the operation of the mill in 1849. In 1877, the Old Mill was changed from a lumber mill to a grist mill.

When John’s son, Clem Rice, owned the mill, he produced fine stone ground flours and created a special pancake mix and packaged graham, corn meal, wheat and buckwheat flour. His creations were very well known.

The Old Mill was initially called Rice’s Dam and was also known for its park facilities, called Rice’s Park. Through the years, the park had consisted of picnic tables, fireplaces, baseball diamonds and cabins, all created by Rice. However, the fate of the park was changed during World War II when the government confiscated the park’s walnut trees for gun stocks, gas rationing limited travel, the mill helpers were called to serve in the military and the cabins were sold and relocated.

One tradition started by Rice that is still held today in the Chatham community is pancake dinners held every March. The tradition came after Rice created a pancake mix that paired well with syrup made by resident Ernie Packard. The Chatham VFW Memorial Hall started hosting the annual pancake dinners when the Packard family could no longer continue the tradition.

Sarah said since the old water wheel had been removed, a tractor with belts had been used to keep the mill running.

“Eventually, we’ll have the water wheel power the mill,” she said.

The Old Mill continues to make and provide flour and pancake mix. Additional information on the mill, including more of its history, can be found online at theoldmill.org.