Old Mill State Park
Encyclopedia
Old Mill State Park is a small Minnesota
state park on the Middle River
between Argyle
and Newfolden
on an ancient beach of glacial Lake Agassiz
in Marshall County
in the northwestern part of the state.
It is a 406 acres (164.3 ha) park.
and wind powered mills
were soon built in the area. Eventually a steam powered mill replace the older technology. The state bought the area in 1937 and rebuilt the steam engine in 1958. Every year as part of the park's special events and interpretive programs, the old mill is run as it had been years ago.
including eight contributing buildings and structures, built by the Works Progress Administration
, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The Larson Mill is listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
state park on the Middle River
Middle River (Minnesota)
The Middle River is a tributary of the Snake River in northwestern Minnesota in the United States. It flows for its entire length in Marshall County.-Course:...
between Argyle
Argyle, Minnesota
Argyle is a city in Marshall County, Minnesota, United States, along the Middle River. The population was 639 at the 2010 census. Old Mill State Park is nearby.-History:Before James J...
and Newfolden
Newfolden, Minnesota
Newfolden is a city in Marshall County, Minnesota, along the Middle River. The population was 368 at the 2010 census. Old Mill State Park is nearby.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
on an ancient beach of glacial Lake Agassiz
Lake Agassiz
Lake Agassiz was an immense glacial lake located in the center of North America. Fed by glacial runoff at the end of the last glacial period, its area was larger than all of the modern Great Lakes combined, and it held more water than contained by all lakes in the world today.-Conception:First...
in Marshall County
Marshall County, Minnesota
Marshall County is a county located in the U.S. State of Minnesota. In 2010, the population was 9,439. It's county seat is Warren.-Geography:...
in the northwestern part of the state.
It is a 406 acres (164.3 ha) park.
History
The park area was originally homesteaded by the Larson Family in 1882. A series of waterWatermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
and wind powered mills
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
were soon built in the area. Eventually a steam powered mill replace the older technology. The state bought the area in 1937 and rebuilt the steam engine in 1958. Every year as part of the park's special events and interpretive programs, the old mill is run as it had been years ago.
Wildlife
Many species are attracted to the river that runs through the park. Deer and moose are the largest animals that frequent the park. Beaver, raccoon, white-tailed jackrabbits and snowshoe hares are common. A bird migration route runs through the park adding more wildlife especially in the spring and fall. The ground-nesting marsh hawk is a common summer resident. Owls and the occasional eagle have been sighted in the park.National Register of Historic Places
A 25 acres (10.1 ha) historic districtHistoric district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
including eight contributing buildings and structures, built by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The Larson Mill is listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places.