the only stone mill of its kind in Connecticut, and one of only two or three in New England.

The Gurleyville Gristmill offers a unique opportunity to observe rural 19th century gristmill technology. It contains a complete system of preserved milling equipment. This is not a restoration; here visitors see the equipment as it was operated over many decades and to the middle of this century.

 
ABOUT THE MILL
The property was bought in 1979 by The Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust with private and public funding. The Trust is dedicated to preserving historic and natural resources in a ten-town area around the town of Windham in eastern Connecticut. The stone building housing the machinery was built about 1835, but a sawmill began operating on the site in 1723. The first gristmill was added about 1750. Unfortunatley the dam was washed away in 1959. It had served for 200 years, repaired and maintained but never modernized.

The Gurleyville Gristmill was for some years operated by the family of Wilbur Lucius Cross, a four-term governor of Connecticut. The nearby miller's cottage was his birthplace. That house in not open to the public, but an extension contains a small museum open whenever the mill is.

The only stone mill of its kind in Connecticut, the Gristmill is built of several types of local rocks: garnetiferous schist, gneiss, granite, pegmatite and quartzite. Located beside the banks of the trout laden Fenton River, the mill houses complete, perfectly preserved equipment. Two sets of grinding stones are as they were when last used. Conveying devices, the silk bolter for flour sifting, shafts, and huge gears are intact. Unusual in gristmills is the basement, where a huge water wheel once turned from water diverted under the building from the Fenton River.

Michael's Preserve is a 5.5 acre natural area which surrounds the meadow (view a map of the preserve surrounding the Gristmill here).Nipmuck Trail crosses the property, following the river where the remains of several mill sites and raceways are visible.

HOW TO REACH THE MILL
The mill is about 2 1/2 miles east of the University of Connecticut in Storrs (within the township of Mansfield). It is NOT on a numbered route.

The best approach is via Route 195 from Interstate 84 in Tolland or from Route 6 in the eastern part of Willimantic

At the northeast corner of the University of Connecticut by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, turn eastward on Gurleyville Road. At Gurleyville Village, turn southward and abruptly turn to the right down narrow Stone Mill Road.

From the south, you may leave Route 195 at the village of Mansfield Center and follow Chaffeeville Road to Stone Mill Road.

VISITOR HOURS AND TOURS
The mill and museum are open from 1 to 5 pm on Sundays from the third Sunday in May through second Sunday in October. Groups may be hosted any day by appointment. Call Joshua's Trust at (860)429-9023. There is no admission fee. Donations are welcomed.

 
Click on map to enlarge it.