Grist Mills

[Anonymous]

This may seem like a foolish question, but I have wondered about this for years. What material is milled in a "grist mill"? I understand milling oats or corn or other grains. I don't know what a grist mill does. It's like shea butter on the list of ingredients in those cosmetic smelling bath soaps. What is "shea" and how do you make butter out of it? What are they referring to as "grist" at a grist mill?

Cheers,

[DSchmitt]

Here's a sit with info:

http://www.kenyonsgristmill.com/

[Anonymous]

Thank you, DSchmitt. That is a very interesting site and it answers my question "to a T".
I appreciate your response.

[leighant]

Interested in more? Here is my FEED MILL article and picture file...

A R Gilmore feed mill, Lakeville NY. plans,pix Model RRer Mar81 p.80
signs for A R Gilmore p.118

Eagle Milling, Edmond OK pix Warbonnet (Bulletin of Santa Fe Historical and Modelers) 3Q 2000 p.17

Hinkle Milling Co., Thomasville NC, plans & pix Railroad Model Craftsman Jan82 p.82

Inter-County Feed Mill, Woodridge NY. Model RRer Jan78 p.112

Maxon Mills- Midwestern style grain elevator in Wassaic, NY. pix & plan, construction. Model RRer Aug94 p.66

Modern feed mill, E.L.Moore, Railroad Model Craftsman June72 p.42

Nickles Milling & Feed Plant, Gilberts,ILL Model RRer June72 p.38

San Miguel, Cal. Feed Mill, ca 1950s from proto pix & model construction, on "SP in LA" layout of Robt. Smaus. Model RRer Apr2000 p.70

Water powered grist mills, overview, history & multi pix, by Frary & Hayden, Railroad Model Craftsman Nov71 p.36

Waukesha Mill, pix _RMC_ Jan71 p.38 plans & model, Railroad Model Craftsman Apr73 p.34

[Anonymous]

Shea butter is a fat derived from the seeds of an African tree or shrub whose name I do not know; I believe that it is edible, but more commonly found in soaps and other cosmetic products.

[willy6]

FYI, just want to mention, there is a good picture of the Kymulga Grist Mill (circa1864) in the N/S company 2005 calendar.The mill is still operational and located near Talladega,Ala.

[Anonymous]

Hey! Lots of good information including a serious answer to my tongue in cheek question about shea butter. And all this time I thought they ground up a guy named Shea!?!! Leighant, that is an impressive bit of research. Thank you.

Cheers,