Claude Kelly, father of Bruce and Ruth Kelly Collins, knew his nearby friends and neighbors needed not to travel for miles for some good cornbread and biscuits. In the late 1930s or early 1940s, Mr. Kelly had the opportunity to purchase a grain mill that could be powered by a gasoline engine. The more power of the engine, the more it cost and the faster the grain could be ground. No one really remembers just what size engine Mr. Kelly used to grind the grain, but it is believed his engine would grind about 15 turns [bushels] per hour.

Mr. Kelly worked for Southern Railway during the week, but his grain mill was the gathering place where friends and neighbors came on Saturdays to get corn ground into meal, grits or chicken feed. Those who grew wheat brought wheat to be ground into flour. It was customary for larger milling operations to store a farmer’s wheat crop and grind it for them as that family used it. Initially, an inventory would be documented with the date, the person’s name and the total bushels or pounds of wheat brought in. The miller would subtract the amount taken each time they came to the mill for more flour as well as noting the grinding toll, which typically was a gallon per bushel ground. A toll was payment for grinding. The miller could use it for his family or he could sell it as orders came in. This practice is also known as bartering. The farmer received a due bill and the amount taken was subtracted from the total each visit until the due bill reached zero. If the occasion called for it, other substitutions could be made for the “toll.”

We believe Mr. Kelly operated the grain mill on Saturdays during the late 1930s and early 1940s until the beginning of World War II when meal and flour would be readily purchased at local general merchandise stores.

The Kelly grain mill was made by Williams Manufacturing Company before 1920. The Williams Company was purchased by Meadows in 1920, and had the mill been manufactured after 1920 it would have carried the Meadows name.

This mill can be set to grind fine corn meal for cornbread, medium grind for grits and coarse grind for chicken feed. If someone came in and asked for extra fine grind, it was a clue that this corn would be used to make “mash” for moonshine.

The location of Mr. Kelly’s mill was about 200 feet down Tazewell Pike from Thomas Road south toward Knoxville and near the Glen Beeler home.

In the late 1960s, Mr. Homer Perry Washam purchased the mill from Mr. Kelly. For whatever reason, he didn’t purchase the engine with the mill. Mr. Washam has now passed away, but he and Mrs. Washam have four sons-- Norman, Daniel, Shannon and Perry. They do not recall their dad ever using the mill, but they were intrigued by it and wanted to keep the old ways. The Washam brothers purchased a 7-1/2 horse power Economy engine, restored the grain mill and now enjoy participating in community festivals to preserve our history and teach “the old ways.” This small engine will grind 3 to 4 bushels an hour, which is plenty for demonstration purposes. This engine was marketed by Sears-Roebuck Company and sold in 1931 for $35. These old engines are frequently referred to as “Hit and Miss” engines. The grinding stones are original to the mill and are 24- inch stone burr. The Washams use a manual corn sheller, which is great fun for both big and little kids who get to shell corn.

One time when demonstrating the engine and grain mill, the boys were sort of playing with the engine grinding chicken feed when one of the viewers commented, “The chickens can eat faster than you can grind.” At a previous Union County Fall Festival, the Washams were awarded the “Best Demonstration Award”. Look for them this year at the Union County Heritage Festival on October 6, up the hill in the vicinity of the Veterans Memorial Building.

Thanks to Jeff Collins, grandson of Mr. And Mrs. Kelly for sharing family history and pictures.