An ambitious restoration of the original 24-foot overshot water wheel, using over 16,000 pounds of white oak lumber.
We have all the metal parts and are building the parts of the wheel using over 16,000 pounds of white oak lumber! Thank you to all of our sponsors — we have sold all of our paddles! Construction is underway, and we will be posting periodic updates here and on social media.
Please consider contributing to Phase 2 to cover the motor, metal and gear work to turn the wheel!
Photo by Bo WillseThank you to everyone who contributed to making Phase 1 of the water wheel — you made it happen! We are so thrilled to see this amazing marvel in engineering come alive, made possible by the community, literally. Hopefully you have been following us with our weekly updates, but we have posted each video below, too.
With the water wheel constructed, we are now entering Phase 2 of the restoration and are looking to raise an additional $30,000 to cover the interior metal work, the gear enclosures and to make the wheel turn on its own through a compact, powerful gearbox and motor.
We will honor your gift on a donor wall next to the 284 year-old set of gear works that will drive the newly-restored historic water wheel! All donation amounts are welcome and will be recognized. With a gift of $300 or more, you can also have an off-cut of the white oak used to build the water wheel! This is the same white oak which miraculously escaped the fire at Camp Small by just a matter of weeks. We can carve it into a personalized gear, a name plate or provided as-is for your own project. If you are able to contribute more than $300, we will be so appreciative!
Your gift is a tax-deductible donation made through the Preservation Alliance of Baltimore County, a registered 501(c)(3).
Keep an eye on these videos as we bring the wheel back to life!
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Week 25
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Week 24
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Week 23
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Week 22
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Week 21
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Week 20
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Week 18 & 19
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Week 17
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Week 16
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Week 15
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Week 14
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Week 13
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Week 12
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Week 11
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Week 10
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Week 5 & 6
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Derek Arnold's drawings to ensure we get the right motor to power the water wheel with the correct gear ratios.
Finally, after a long, harsh winter that iced everything over and froze the wood, we're back to working on the water wheel! Robert has started making the patterns for each side of the wheel. Each side consists of 12 arches forming one complete circle, and each arch will hold 6 paddles — 72 in total!
Construction of the water wheel has officially started! This week, Robert Jones completed the platform that he will be building the wheel on. On the platform, he outlined the perimeter of the wheel and drew where each spoke would go. In addition to completing the platform, Robert worked on straight lining each white oak board to ensure that all pieces would be flush together once they are added to the wheel.
Barn siding was added to the side of the mill adjacent to the water wheel well, which would have been impossible once the wheel is in place.
We successfully wrapped up one last essential project before diving into the water wheel construction. Robert Jones worked through September and October to add siding to the kitchen and loft addition off the back of the mill.
Read the featured story about the water wheel in The Baltimore Sun! Also check out our Instagram reel. Construction starting in September.
Construction on hold awaiting white oak drying.
Beth Smith wrote an article for Old Mill News (SPOOM publication).
Derek Arnold and Robert Jones taking measurements, mapping out construction of first components. Nearly 40 paddle sponsors so far, halfway to full funding including motorizing the wheel, adding railing, and enclosing the exposed large gear in the store.
Robert Jones added sides to the pavilion to house white oak lumber for drying/curing.
Over 18,000 pounds of white oak arrived from Camp Small.
December addendum: Camp Small suffered a devastating fire on December 8th. Fortunately, our lumber had already been delivered.
Shaun Preston and Nick Oster at Camp Small milled white oak logs into 16,000 pounds of boards per Robert Jones's specifications.
Frank Kammer of Kammer Masonry repaired exterior mortar, set up scaffolding in the wheel well (3-4 feet deep water), used 100+ year old stones from the property, created cylinder form for axle, and poured footing for the Dutch door. Ten solid days of work.
First paddle arrived at Manor Mill. Debating CNC Router engraving vs. bronze plates for sponsor names.
5', 6/4 14" flat-sawn white oak plank, likely from Druid Hill Park, estimated 200+ years old. Partnership with Baltimore County Historic Trust. Year-long effort to gather wood and raise funds.
Field trip to Camp Small to kick off the next phase. Robert Jones reviewing hand-drawn rendering of the 24' overshot wheel. Camp Small is a Baltimore City "wood waste collection yard" covering 5 acres in the Jones Falls Valley, collaboration with Baltimore Office of Sustainability.
Carpenter & Timber Framer
Welder
Mason
Lumber Providers
Manor Mill Proprietor
