The 20th Annual Ducky Derby was great success, thanks to your support! Despite buying more ducks to swim this year, we still sold out for the first time ever! We greatly appreciate your support! We are looking forward to next summer when we will be open again. Check out a couple pictures of the event.
Ducky Derby:
The 20th Ducky Derby will be held Saturday morning, October 7, 2023 at the mill from 10-2. Numbered rubber ducks may be purchased at $5/duck, $20/5 ducks, or $100/ 26 ducks. Ducks swim in the Stevens River at 11am. You may reserve ducks ahead at the Barnet Library, the West Barnet Quick Stop, at the mill
Our annual fund raiser, The Ducky Derby, will be held Saturday, October 7 beginning at 10am. The ducks swim at 11am. There will be donated prizes, raffle drawings and live music. Ducks may be purchased at $5 per duck, $20 for five ducks, or $100 for twenty-six ducks. They may be purchased at the mill on the morning of the race or earlier at the West Barnet Quick Stop, the Barnet Library, or the Moose River Campground. Winning duck owners may choose a donated prize. We hope you are able to attend and enjoy the fun!
Below you can see a few of the prizes:
Our annual woodworking demonstration was held Saturday and Sunday, August 5 and 6 from 11am til 3pm. Richard Montague's spring pole lathe was featured. A young lad honed his draw knife skills while Stan Crane smoothed some cedar shakes (shingles) which he had split with a froe and club. Other folks enjoyed a tour of the mill. Be sure to attend next year!
The 2023 Hammer-In was a pounding success! This year it was held both Saturday and Sunday July 22 and 23. We enjoyed a large turnout of folks, young and old alike. Tours of the mill were also given. And it didn't rain! Thanks for the many donations which help keep our door open! We hope to see you at it next year. Below are Dave Tardiff, Alder Hardt (in black shirt), James Teuscher, and Russell Spies at the wood lathe.
Woodworking Month:
August was woodworking month at Ben's Mill. We demonstrated primitive woodworking methods and Richard Montegue presented his spring pole lathe. Hands on participation was encouraged.
Hammer-In July 9, 2022:
It was a great success with wonderful weather and a great turnout! We were excited to see so many young folks there. James Teuscher of South Walden, and Alder Hardt of Wolcott along with Dave Tardiff of Ben's Mill staff gave blacksmith demonstrations while gaving opportunities for folks to try their hand as well. Below are photos from the event.
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Ducky Derby
Ducky Derby is the major fund raiser event for Ben's Mill. Participants buy numbered rubber ducks to be entered in a race down the Stevens River. This year it will be held Saturday, October 3, 2020. $5/duck, $20/5 ducks, or $100/26 ducks.
Come join in the fun and help preserve local history! Because of COVID19 we are encouraging folks to purchase ducks ahead of time although they may be purchased at the event. (Ben's Mill PO Box 50 Barnet, VT 05821) There are many prizes to give away. They will be available at the event or at a later scheduled pickup time.
Volunteer Appreciation Day:Saturday, July 20, 201912 noon until.
Hammer-In Blacksmith Demonstration with Lucian Avery occurred July 13, 2019 from 11 to 4
After making a few cut nails for the youngsters, Lucian completed the ambitious project of making a hatchet. He began by shaping the end of a long soft steel bar. After the basic outline was created a hole was punched for the handle. Next a slot was created to receive tool steel for the blade. Not shown in these pictures is creating a small blade piece from tool steel, welding it in place, final shaping, and cutting the hatchet from the long bar.
