While nobody would say the action is swift in a rubber ducky derby, that fact didn’t dissuade the throngs of spectators from cheering and chasing along the shore as the ducks bobbed down Stevens River in West Barnet Saturday morning.
The “race” was part of the annual Ducky Day event at Ben’s Mill. The event is the last hoorah before the seasonal closing of the historic water-powered mill. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the ongoing restoration efforts.
Highlights of this year’s Ducky Day included the race, tours of the mill, kids’ games and vendors. Dylan Ford was on hand with apples and a cider press for demonstrations and tastings. And Evan Perkins was busy at work in the blacksmith shop giving demonstrations and letting kids have a chance to turn the forge blower and help out at the anvil.
Ben’s Mill, as it stands now, dates back to 1872, although the first mill on the Stevens River was built 90 years earlier, in 1782. Restoration work began in 2000 and is ongoing. Work has been done to repair the foundation, rebuild the penstock, inventory the contents of the mill, add structural support, among other projects.
This turns out to be one of those wonderful preservation project that a few dedicated community minded folks take on. It turns out that it started out as a saw mill and it helped build the town. Later it became a involved in the wool industry. In a later life, it became a cider mill and then a blacksmith shop.
The two stock tubs you see were made in the blacksmith shop for a local farm and returned to the mill.
Below is the remains of the dam that was still function in the ‘70s.
If you are idle, there is a wonderful excerpt from a documentary that shows the blacksmith shop in use and how the tubs were made.
How The River Worked for Ben’s Mill in Vermont & Is Going Back to Work Again
• A Presentation by the Putney Historical Society •
Featuring the Film “Ben Thresher’s Mill” and a presentation about the restoration of Ben’s Mill as told by Hiram Allen of the Ben’s Mill Trust, Barnet. Admission $3.00
Like Sackett’s Brook in Putney and Whetstone Brook in Brattleboro, the Stevens River winds its way down through Peacham and Barnet, VT down to the Connecticut River. Just as in older times the streams in Windham County powered quite a few mills – water worked for Barnet’s farmers right up into the 1980’s, with Ben Thresher’s mill. That mill’s story will be told in Putney on August 30 as a special presentation about water power by the Putney Historical Society.
On Thursday, August 30th at 6:30 p.m. the film “Ben Thresher’s Mill” (once part of a series on National Public Television) will be shown.
The story of Ben Thresher and his mill was captured back in 1981 by a pair of New England filmmakers – John Karol of Orford, NH and Michel Chalufour of Bath, ME. Their intimate documentary captured Ben at work in his mill: modifying tools; making a cattle watering tub; showing how he harnesses the power of the river with pulleys and shafts to run his saws, trip hammer, planer and forge blower.
Ben no longer runs that Barnet mill. After Ben died in a tragic road accident near his mill, the mill passed to Steven Hogan of Moultonborough, NH. He in turn sold it in 1999 to Hiram and Lois Allen, then of Hartford, VT.
On the 30th, Hiram Allen will visit Putney to talk about successful efforts to return Ben’s Mill to working condition, including all of its original equipment as well as its oak penstock and turbine. When its dam is eventually approved by the state to turn that repaired turbine, Ben’s Mill will run on the power of water once more.
The Allens and others formed the Ben’s Mill Trust, which successfully brought together Barnet residents and friends to restore the mill using local volunteer labor. Sally Fishburn, President of the trust’s Board, will be on hand to answer questions.
Members of Putney Historical Society will also show slides documenting the Thwing Mill in Putney. That mill was recreated at its original spot by the Wilson family of Putney in 1987 with the help of Greensboro Bend timber framer Jan Lewandowski. It sits quietly by the side of Sackett’s Brook to this day – hidden from the view and knowledge of many town residents.
A donation of $3 is requested in conjunction with the screening and talk. For further information, please call the Putney Historical Society at 387-8500.