Assessment of Sheppard's Mill 1075 Billy Moorehead Road Sandy Ridge, North Carolina Stokes County

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Sherilyn Potter
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1 Assessment of Sheppard's Mill 1075 Billy Moorehead Road Sandy Ridge, North Carolina Stokes County John N. Lovett, Jr., Ph.D., P.E. (Retired) Falls Mill and Museum 134 Falls Mill Road Belvidere, TN (931) On August 4, 2011, I visited Sheppard's Mill on Snow Creek in Sandy Ridge, North Carolina, near Danbury, Stokes County, at the request of owners Mark and Addie Larimore. The purpose of this visit was to assess the condition of the mill and equipment to assist the Larimores and their realtor in locating a suitable buyer for the property. The hope was to sell the mill to someone who would operate and maintain the mill in its historical context. Their Realtor, Sybil Argintar, met us at the mill, along with David Bonyun, who videotaped the property features and interviewed us for marketing purposes. History. Sheppard's Mill was built in 1904 following the destruction by fire of an earlier structure on the site. It was operated by the Sheppard family as a water-powered grain and saw mill until the early 1960's. At that time it was restored by millwright Joe Terry and local carpenter Charles Moorefield. It is not clear how much of the present machinery was retained from the original (1904) mill, or was moved in during the restoration. I was told that the Sheppards upgraded the mill three times during their ownership, presumably to expand production. Several years ago, the late Charles Parnell, who operated the Old Mill at Guilford (NC), and a partner named Frank Blount, bought Sheppard's Mill. Soon after, Mr. Parnell became ill and very little was able to be accomplished at the mill. The Larimores subsequently purchased the mill from the surviving partner Mr. Blount. Mill and Equipment. The present structure is a two-story frame building with attic and basement. There is an open shed addition that houses the sawmill. There is also an addition that was previously used as a store. The front of the mill has a large open lean-to attachment, probably used originally to pull wagons and later trucks under for grain unloading. The basement of the mill is now concrete. The structure as a whole is in very good condition. It lies on the banks of Snow Creek, a tributary of the Dan River, next to a concrete dam. The dam is also in good condition and has a gating system for draining the pond and admitting water into the turbine penstock. The penstock is concrete and houses a small Davis turbine for operating the grain milling machinery. On the outside of this penstock is a scroll-case turbine formerly used to run the sawmill. Water is piped directly into this second turbine from the penstock. There is the customary system of gears, shafts, pulleys, and flat belts that operates the machinery. Equipment in the mill represents both the stone buhr and roller milling eras. There are two sets of horizontal stone buhr mills that appear to be in excellent condition. Each is 36 inches in diameter, and it appears one was used for corn and one for wheat milling. The mill for whole wheat flour is of Nordyke and Marmon manufacture. The other is very similar but has no manufacturer's markings. There are also four Monarch roller mills built by the Sprout-Waldron Company. These also appear to be in very good condition, and could be made operable with some cleaning, lubricating, and adjustment. These roller

2 mills were connected to a system for producing self-rising white flour, all of which is still intact. This system includes cup elevators, bolters (sifters), mixers, and flour packers. There are also appropriate grain cleaning machines, including a corn cleaner and wheat scourer that are in excellent condition. Means were provided for moving grain into the building, where elevators carried it to the appropriate cleaners on the second floor. Most spouts and valves for the movement of grain and milled materials could be operated by pull cords, all marked, on the first floor, making the miller's task much easier. The corn system also includes its own sifting and mixing equipment. I was very impressed by the skill displayed in the restoration of the milling machinery. I believe a month's work could have the millstone system operating again, producing corn meal and whole wheat flour products. I would not recommend operating the roller mill system unless a niche market for the white flour could be established. Only in this way could the machinery be run several days a week to help keep it clean and maintained. This system will take a bit more time to restore, although it is generally in very good condition. The main requirements will involve cleaning, lubricating, and repair work to the plansifter (large hanging bolter) on the second floor. The condition of the Davis water turbine is unknown, and could only be determined by descending into the penstock and examining the runner and bearings. It was said to be operational after the mill was restored. The condition of the other turbine could not be determined without dismantling. In summary, I have seen few mills that rank in as excellent overall condition as Sheppard's Mill. I believe the mill can be made operational by water power with very little time and expense, assuming the Davis turbine is in relatively good condition. Otherwise, there is an electric motor already in place that is capable of driving the mill machinery. I would estimate conservatively that no more than $5,000 is required to bring the stone buhr system to operating condition by electric power. If all work is done by the new owners, this expense may be reduced further. Respectfully submitted, John N. Lovett, Jr. August 10, 2011

3 Sheppard's Mill Sawmill at Sheppard's Mill Dam at Sheppard's Mill

4 Sprout - Waldron Roller Mills 36 -inch Stone Buhr Mill Second 36 - inch Stone Buhr Mill

5 Scroll-caseTurbine, Operated Sawmill Turbine, Operated Grist and Flour Mill Dam Showing Gating System

6 Wheat Scourer Flour Mixer and Grain Cleaner

7 Plansifter (Hanging Flour Bolter) Elevators

Located on the banks of Deer Creek. located on the banks of Deer Creek. In Harford County, Maryland

Located on the banks of Deer Creek located on the banks of Deer Creek. In Harford County, Maryland The mill was built in the early 1800 s by the Stansbury family and operated as a grist mill, until a sawmill