Summersville Mill Awarded 4th Place in 2009
Missouri Community Betterment
The Summersville Mill was awarded 4th in its category in the state for 2009. The
plaque hangs at city hall for all to see. Brenda Wilcox and Charlotte Siedsma went
to Jefferson City to accept the award!
Thirty nine communities
and 18 individuals were honored at the Missouri Community Betterment (MCB) conference
in Jefferson City. The Awards Banquet was the highlight of the 46th conference which
assists communities to improve their quality of life. Nearly 350 volunteers, community
leaders and youth from across the state were in attendance.
Poker Run Nets $1225.32 For Mill Restoration
Area organizers planned a "Dogs off the Leash" poker run on Saturday, September 20 to benefit the restoration of the Summersville Mill. The poker run included a road trip down 106 to Eminence, Highway 19 North to KK, then to Akers Ferry, up K through Jadwin to E, then 119 to Montauk State Park and VV back to 137 through Raymondville to Yukon and Highway 17 back to Summersville.
Bikers could sign up to complete the approximately 100 mile run until noon. After a very foggy start to the day, riders began trickling in. A total of 47 bikes and riders completed the ride. Proceeds from donations, 80% of Poker run monies, delicious bar-b-que pork sandwich meal, and raffle tickets totaled $1225.32. At the end of the day, entertainment was provided by Gary Coffee and Southern Core.
The first place winner, Karl Welschmeyer, Linn, MO who donated $100 of his winnings back to the mill restoration. Second best hand was won by Cory Brawley, Summersvlle, and the worst hand was drawn by Bobby Burns, Hartshorn.
"Oliver’s Ozarks" Visits Summersville Mill
David Oliver of Oliver’s Ozarks from KOLR, channel 10, Springfield, came to Summersville on Friday, July 18 to film a story about the Summersville Mill Restoration.
RABS member, Roy Broce, talks with Oliver and crew about the mill progress.
The film clip aired at 10 PM Tuesday, July 22. The newsclip can also be viewed at ozarksfirst.com or by following this link.
http://ozarksfirst.com/media_player.php?media_id=71701
A Brief History
The Summersville Mill History
As provided by the Summersville Town and Country Historical Society, February 1972 Volanda Laidley, President
The Summersville Mill in Summersville, Missouri, has an interesting history and is one of the few mills left in the state still operating and producing soft wheat flour. The history of the present mill dates back to 1886 when Jim McCaskill, who had a store and post office in town, purchased and installed machinery for a grist mill. Previously, one had to go to Barricklow (Bear Claw) to get grinding done. (Located by the town of Eunice) This usually took more than one day as one would have to wait in line. The mill would often operate all night to get caught up on grinding.
Needing a larger mill, Mr. McCaskill sold the old machinery to ....
Further reading