392 



HISTORY OF PASADENA. 



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Coiner buttress. Wheel chambers. iSprint; under tliis corner. 



THE OLD STONE MILL. 

 As sketched in "Land of Sunshine," July, 1895. 



1846 he published at New York a book entitled " Life in California." On 

 page 33, speaking of his first visit at San Gabriel, he says: "On the 

 declivity of a hill is erected a violino, or grist-mill, surrounded with fruit 

 trees and flowers. A beautiful lake lies calm and unruffled in front, and all 

 around fresh streams are gushing from the earth, and scattering their waters 

 in every direction. It would be a magnificent spot for a summer retreat, 

 and much reminded me of many of the beautiful locations to be met with in 

 the vicinity of Boston." 



In the centennial "Historical Sketch of IvOS Angeles County," pub- 

 lished in 1876, there is a reference to the "Old Mill" which was written by 

 Hon. J. T. Warner, a native of Connecticut who settled at L,os Angeles in 

 1 83 1, while the San Gabriel Mission was still flourishing in full vigor, under 

 Padre Sanchez's prelatical rule. And Warner says : 



"At an early period in the history of San Gabriel, a water-power mill 

 for grinding wheat was constructed and put in operation in front of and near 

 the Mission building. At a later period a new grist-mill was built by the 

 Mission, and placed about two miles from the Mission proper.* This was 

 also operated by water power. The building in which was placed this mill 

 is now the property of E. Iv. Mayberry, and is used for a wine cellar. 

 A water-power saw-mill was also built by this Mission, and was located near 

 the last mentioned grist-mill. These were the only mills made or used in 

 California, either for grinding or sawing, in which water was the motive 

 power, or in which a wheel was used, for more than half a century after the 

 founding of the first Mission in continental California. In these two grist- 

 mills the revolving mill-stone was upon the upper end of a vertical shaft, 



*This is a mistake. The old stone mill was built fir.st, under Padre Zalvidea, in 1S10-12. The mill 

 opposite the church \v;is not built until 1821 ?2. Joseph Chapman was the carpenter and millwright who 

 built it, and Ckiudio I.opez was then major-domo. See jiages 42 and 51 . 



