Most of us don't understand the workings of a grist mill.  I know I always imagined a wheel standing, rolling over the other wheel laying flat.  But that is wrong. Let me try to explain it very simply.

1. Mills must be next to a creek or source of running water.

2. A small canal or "chase" is used to divert some water from the main stream. When the water runs through the canal, the wheel turns. When the "door" to the canal is closed, it stops.

3. The wheels lay flat, one atop the other.

4. The top wheel turns and grinds the kernels of corn or seeds from the wheat against the other stationary wheel, and flour is produced.

5. Extreme grinding creates fine flour, less extreme creates a "meal" consistency.

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After the Hawk Grist Mill closed, the Lee Blouse Factory took over the building. When it closed, several small businesses attempted to make use of the building, but they failed. Eventually, the township was given the building and property by the last owners in forgiveness of unpaid taxes.

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The Township decided to demolish the building.  They also bought the house and property next door, to the east, but plan to demolish that too, and create a "Town Center" - a tiny plaza with a fountain and some seating directly in front of the Old Stone Arch Bridge.

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One final word on the blouse factories.  Many women who worked at our blouse factories advocated for better work conditions and were proud of their role in making the International Ladies Garment Workers Union one of the largest and most powerful unions in the U.S.

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I have read dozens of obituaries where women or their families listed the three most important things in their lives -

1. Their families,

2. Their church and

3. Time spent working at the blouse factories.

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Some might say that the union was too good at what it did because it may have caused the blouse factories to "run away" again - this time to foreign countries without union and strong safety regulations.

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Maybe stop in the General Store and grab a hoagie or a soft ice cream, and thank Rachel for all her years of service to the community.

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Make a left coming out of the parking lot onto Kunkletown Road and almost immediately a left onto Chestnut Ridge Drive.   Pull off to the right side of the road at the Chestnut Ridge Rail Trail Signage.