Tuthilltown Grist Mill
Ulster Co. | New York | USA
Watersource: Shawangunk Kill (river)
Tuthilltown Grist Mill
From I-87, exit onto westbound US 44. Take US 44 through the towns of Modena, Ireland Corners, Gardiner, and Tuthill, cross the Wallkill and turn left on Ch 9/Albany Post Road. Turn right on Tuthilltown Road then immediately left on Gristmill Lane to the mill at the endf the lane.
The Tuthilltown Grist Mill, a 2.5 story frame grist & flour mill of 35'X 50" dimensions. The mill is topped with a 35'-40' clerestory flush with the rear wall but not quite making it to the front of the mill.
The head race into the mill, built historically in 1788; but, other evidence points to 1796-98 as the date of construction. The head race is supplied with water from upstream by way of a 2500' canal.
The tailrace of the mill. The two water spouts are the result of water bypassing the turbine and the other is that which powers the turbine and is exited from the turbine pit.
The Shawangunk Kill just below the mill. The Shawangunk flows into the WallKill about a mile downstream of the mill. Check this website for more information about the mill: www.tuthilltown.com/history.htm
The grinding room area inside the mill. The nearby stone set on the right is an operable 52"set, while thwe far stone set measures 40".
A roller mill manufactured by B.F. Gump Co., Chicago, Illinois, manufacturer of flour and feed mill machinery.
The main line shaft, formerly coming from the turbine, but now attached to the PTO power source. The main gear has wooden splines as does the bevel gear at a 90 degree angle to the the main gear. These wooden splines are replacable as need requires. The line shaft, as seen, goes on to drive many different belts and gearing via the large pulleys.
Check the website above for added history and info on the mill that is for sale.
The miller' house at the Wallkill Valley Flour Mill, now Tuthilltown Grist Mill. The original mill was built in 1788 0r 1798 by 18 year old Selah Tuthill and ground grain using an undershot wheel.
Ludwig Brand owned the mill from 1900 until 1941, when he sold it to George Smith. The millrace closest to the mill entrance was made into a stone walled channelalong with other improvements in 1945. In 1948, George started to grind kosher flour for Hassidic congregations in Brooklyn, N.Y.
David Helman had worked at the mill in Gardiner for two decades with the former Miller George Smith. His clients were nine Hassidic communities in the Greater New York area. The products were Kosher whole wheat flour & Graham flour for Passover matzo. The photo shows the dam on the Shawangunk Kill about 3,000' upstream of the mill.
Starting soon after legislation changed for the cost of distillery licenses, from $50,000.00 to $1450.00 a yearn for a Class A license, Ralph Erenzo, then owner & current owner if mill hasn't sold, & Brian Lee cleaned out the old gristmill granary, and began distilling a variety of unique and custom alcoholic beverages from local fruits and grains. To learn more about the development go to www.tuthilltown/index.php.