The rushing water of the McMichael Creek over the dam at Brinker’s Mill, also known as the Old Mill, in Sciota, is a relaxing sound, and the picturesque spot with its accompanying trail is enjoyed by many residents of the area. But have you ever been inside the Old Mill?

The mill was open earlier this summer for visitors to take a peek, and reenactors from the 24th Connecticut Militia Regiment where on hand to talk about life during the Revolutionary War.

Hamilton Township Supervisor Lawrence Buzzard said, “We’ve had many events involving encampments, militia or Revolutionary War. Every year, we have at least one event involving that.”

Buzzard said they don’t do a lot of promotion of the events because parking is limited.

“We’re having a good turnout,” he said of the manageable-sized crowd.

Supervisor Charles Warner said, “With the excitement of America 250, that’s one of the reasons the mill is a draw, because this is where Sullivan’s March came through.”

A cherished landmark, the Old Mill was heavily damaged in 2012 due to floodwaters from Hurricane Sandy. Buzzard said the township spent approximately $1.25 million to repair it.

“We made sure it would last for maybe the next encampment in 200 years from now,” he said. “It’s a good local treasure.”

“It’s a gem,” Warner said.

According to the Monroe County Historical Society, the mill was built in 1730 by Jacob Brinker and was originally a log structure. In 1790, it was owned by John George Keller, who founded Kellersville. And by 1800, the log structure was replaced with the stone structure that stands today, and Barrett Fenner became the owner. He is responsible for the stonework of the building.

Around 1830, the mill was sold to the Snyder family, who operated it for over 100 years. Operations ceased in the 1950s, and Eugene Heller, who bought it in 1954, sold it to Karl Hope. In 1974, Hope sold it to Hamilton Township, and the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 1976.

The inside of the mill includes a variety of items from the days when it was operational. A sheet of Plexiglas in the floor makes a window for visitors to see the water wheel.

“You open up the gate, and of course the paddle wheel goes and that starts the cogs turning and the belts run up to loft,” Warner said.

Nearby, two grinding stones sit on a platform that isn’t attached to the building. Bruce Ecke, a member of the Old Mill committee, explained that it was built that way because the movement of the stones would shake the building and damage it.

Downstairs, visitors can see the water wheel move.

“It’s an undershot wheel,” Ecke said. The water comes in through a large diameter pipe in the wall. A gate is used to close off the pipe when they don’t want the wheel to move.

From the first floor, a spiral staircase goes to the loft. The original steps are too narrow and worn to allow the public to go up them anymore.

“We do need a new roof,” Warner said. Daylight can be seen through the numerous holes in the roof. “We’re working on a grant for that. We want to do it with the shakes. We don’t want to cover it with anything else.”

Warner said burlap sacks were filled with grain in the loft and lowered to the ground via a pulley system through a doorway to the outside. He said his father used to bring buckwheat to the mill to have it processed into flour.

If you missed it, the Old Mill will be open again to the public from noon to 4 p.m. on Sept. 20. A chicken BBQ will be going on at that time also, but tickets must be purchased ahead of time. For more information, call the township office at 570-992-7020.