Edwards Mill is more than likely the only mill of its kind in the world. Built on the campus of College of the Ozarks, at Point Lookout, Missouri, the mill grinds cornmeal and grits (which you may purchase in the gift shop onsite), and also serves as a showcase for the various goods and art that students create while studying at this school.
In fact, there is weaving studio upstairs in the mill, and many of the lovely products stand on display for sale. When I was onsite, I snapped this pic (below) of two students working on baskets for sale. When they’re not helping customers, they keep busy weaving.
For those of you not familiar with the concept of education at the College of the Ozarks, its mission statement reads, “The mission of College of the Ozarks is to provide the advantages of a Christian education for youth of both sexes, especially those found worthy, but who are without sufficient means to procure such training.” The college offers a wide variety of majors, from nursing to business and accounting. Full-time students are required to participate in the Work Education Program, which also includes a wide variety of opportunities. As a result of this policy, the college has been dubbed “Hard Work U.”
History of Edwards Mill
According to “From the Ozarks Oven: Edwards Mill Cookbook” (Betty Watts, College of the Ozarks, 1989), this mill “began as a poor man’s dream.” Alice and Hubie (Hubert) Edwards, from Kansas City, financed an operational replica of an Ozarks grist mill in 1972, as designed by William Cameron. Hubie had worked as a miller in Kansas City.
Cameron arrived in the U.S. from Ireland in 1923, and worked as a miller and as a mill product representative throughout the Ozarks for almost 50 years. It is reported that Cameron called upon 180 mills throughout his career, and he said, “Some of them as small as 25 barrels a day and others as large as 3,500 barrels.” After World War II, Cameron opened his own feed mill in Exeter, Missouri.
Cameron designed and managed the mill project. In order to create this historically accurate mill, it was necessary to find timber and equipment from older Missouri and Kansas mills, putting the various components all together to make a two-story mill with a 12-foot waterwheel. “State of the Ozarks” writes, “Authenticity is the theme of the mill. Massive timbers that form the framework were mortised and pegged in the tradition of pioneer structure, when iron fasteners were rare. The mill is made of native woods such as oak, maple and cedar.”
At the time of the construction, Hubie chaired the board of the Dixie-Portland Flour Mills, a Kansas City business. Alice’s love of weaving shows clearly today, in the gift shop, which features baskets and rugs for sale — handmade by students.
The College of the Ozarks dedicated Edwards Mill on October 7, 1972.
Today, the mill’s operations are powered by electricity, but have the ability to switch over to water power, if necessary. Andy Thomas supervises the Edwards Mill operation, which has four students working in the milling area, five students making baskets and five students weaving rugs. The team also is responsible for hosting tours. As to why the mission of Edwards Mill is important, Thomas said, “It’s so we don’t become oblivious to where we’ve come from, and we get an appreciation for the big picture.”
Down in the Basement of Edwards Mill
The basement holds a museum, plum full of artifacts about mills and the process involved. It even holds the equipment that the mill uses for grinding corn.
Outside Edwards Mill
Walk around the mill and you’ll see more interesting items, such as mill stones from around the Ozarks on one side, and an elevated flue that brings water from the mill pond to the overshot wheel. The mill pond is fed by Lake Honor.
I highly recommend walking around the building, to admire the rock work that features an arrow, along with the construction of the waterwheel and raceway. It’s a work of art.
The mill is located on the School of the Ozarks campus at One Opportunity Avenue, College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Mo. 65726. The gift shop also offers online shopping, where you may purchase more than 30 items made by the students. Edwards Mill is open weekdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed on Sundays and holidays.
