Facts: Maryland Grist Mill
Photo: Roops Mill (View larger version)
- Carroll County, where Roop's Mill is located, is the birthplace of Francis Key Scott, the author of the Star-Spangled Banner.
The millstones inside Roop's Mill were imported by France and arrived by ship in the Port of Baltimore.
- The Roop's family ran a dairy farm as well as a flour mill, a cider mill, saw mill, ice house and milling shop.
- The construction of Roop's Mill's design was innovated and patented by Oliver Evans. Evans is accredited with designing both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson's gristmills.
- The Roop's Mill barn was built without using any nails. The builders cut the wood first, timber sockets were fashioned, or "tailor-made" to fit their corresponding timbers; thus each timber piece must be numbered. Then pegs were hammered in.
- Gristmills have been around for centuries, since people have been using flour for quite a long time. Early gristmills were powered by livestock, slaves, water, or windmills.
- The Mill was operational for over 100 years. In 1919, the mill ceased production, but was reopened for a short period of time in 1955.
- The dinner bell found in the Roop's Mill barn was made by Goulds Manufacturing. By 1848 Goulds Pumps had already built a reputation for the high skills of its artisans. They produced all kinds of cast products such as corn shellers, bells, sad irons, sinks, tools, and a line of fire engines.
- A tile found in the gristmill, copyright 1882 by J. & J.G. LOW, can also be found on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
