War Eagle Mill
by Nava Thompson
Title
War Eagle Mill
Artist
Nava Thompson
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A photo taken by Nava Thompson of War Eagle Mill in NW Arkansas (contest winner).........War Eagle Mill is major in the Arts and Crafts in the fall and spring time. Sylvanus and Cathryn Blackburn moved to the War Eagle Valley in 1832 and built a mill next to War Eagle Creek............... In 1848 a flood pushed the mill into the river, washing it downstream and completely destroying it........Second mill----
1860 photo of the second mill, with sawmill additionThe Blackburns rebuilt the mill and expanded it to include a sawmill. Business prospered as the local population increased..................After 1860, with the Civil War, northwest Arkansas residents were caught between strongly Confederate Arkansans to the south and Union-supporting Missourians just a few miles north. The Blackburns' five sons enlisted in the Confederate Army, while the Blackburns took the rest of their family to Texas, returning four years later...................In 1862, the Union Army moved into northern Arkansas and the War Eagle Valley, and used the mill to grind grain. As the Confederate Army advanced into the area, the Union Army concentrated near Pea Ridge, Arkansas. Confederate soldiers used the mill for two days, but burned it down to prevent it being used again by the Union.................After the Battle of Pea Ridge, the surrounding country was laid waste by the retreating Confederates and bands of looters.[5] Many residents abandoned their homesteads and fled............Third mill...........
The third mill, which existed from 1873 to 1924, seen here in 1920.After the war ended in 1865, the Blackburn family returned to find only their house still standing. Sylvanus' son, James Austin Cameron (J.A.C.) Blackburn, reconstructed the mill again by 1873.................. J.A.C. decided to expand mill production by adding a more powerful grinding machine run by a turbine engine instead of a water wheel. Their sawmill, reportedly the largest in Arkansas, led J.A.C. to become known as the "Lumber King" of northwest Arkansas.[5] Lumber cut at the War Eagle sawmill was used to build much of Fayetteville, Arkansas�including Old Main on the University of Arkansas campus. After winning a seat in the Arkansas Senate, J.A.C. sold the mill to the Kilgore family who operated it until 1924 when the mill burned down............. This fire left only the foundation and remnants of the building................Present mill----In 1973, Jewel Medlin purchased the property. His wife Leta and daughter Zoe Medlin Caywood found blueprints and rebuilt the mill for the third time............The design was modified slightly to bring back the undershot water wheel that had been used over 100 years earlier................War Eagle Mill is the only working watermill in Arkansas, and is powered by an eighteen-foot cypress water wheel.......... They mill and sell organic grain, cereal and flour products commercially on site.
Uploaded
November 9th, 2013
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Viewed 323 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/06/2024 at 7:56 AM
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Comments (33)
Doug Kreuger
Nava, I,m making a revisit to this spectacular millstream artwork. The reflected sky and inverted trees are truly wonderful—I'm looking forward to the time when I might get to see this Mill in person… If this year passes as quickly as the last one, we could be there sooner than you think? L&F
Nava Thompson replied:
Doug---thank you--and you would love this place---you can have a very simple lunch there--and buy War Eagle ground flour. Hope it works for your visit. Thanks for the l/f!
Doug Kreuger
Nava Jo, Congratulations on your WFS Contest Win with this soothing waterfall! Love the blue sky & clouds reflected on this calm pond. L/V
Norm Starks
Congrats on your waterfall contest win, Nava. I've had breakfast at this mill...what a great place! V/f
Nava Thompson replied:
Norm---thank you for your nice comments! I think we missed breakfast when I made this--great to know you have been there. Thanks for the v/f!
Hanne Lore Koehler
Spectacular capture, Nava!!! Wonderful perspective! Congratulations on your well deserved Waterfall Contest win!
Sharon Duguay
Wow ,Congrats on your Contest win Nava Jo ,the reflection & composition are superb L/F
Wayne Stabnaw
Wow! So deserving of a win in the in-house contest! We were there on our trip, but didn't capture anything so beautiful! Fantastic composition! v&f
Nava Thompson replied:
Wayne--thank you so much. Thought about you all a lot as we have retraced some of your steps. I really appreciate your thoughts about this one. Thanks for the v/f!
Deb Halloran
Nava Jo, Congratulations on your "In House" Waterfall Contest in the Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery Group. This is such a beautiful image and very deserving of the win. Exceptional composition with beautiful colors, reflections and amazing light. Exquisite work of art. v/f
Nava Thompson replied:
Deb---I am encouraged by your comments---really appreciate your thoughts, visit and support with v/f! :)
Randy Rosenberger
Nava, this is one of the most amazing compositions of pure beauty I have had the pleasure of viewing, with the old mill wheel, the superb reflections, and the lovely water falls, are all extraordinary! It is an honor and a privilege as an administrator of one of the top groups on FAA, our Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group, to promote and highlight your awesome artworks on our homepage in one of the prestigious positions, on our group Featuring HOMEPAGE! Your artworks show your love of what you do, and is refined to where we not only accept and promote your fine works, but welcome that opportunity. It is a pleasure to have you as a member of our family of friends and fine artists in the WFS group. Thanks for sharing! Liked Forever, Elvis
Nava Thompson replied:
Randy--thank you very much for the great comments on my 'War Eagle Mill' scene! They still grind and sell organic products there. The NW AR arts and crafts are held there also. Thank you for the feature in WFS for the Waterfall contest! :)
Doug Kreuger
What a beautiful new upload, Nava Jo! I cannot remember the last time I've seen more perfect sky and trees reflected in flowing water! A perfectly captured waterfall, too! The foreground leaves help define spacial distance. Wonderful composition cropping and Description my friend! L/V&F
Nava Thompson replied:
Doug--thank you for the encouragement!! Much appreciate your thoughts about this one--and for the L/V