Remember how special those first couple of days back to school were? When my 4 kids were all school age, we used to start our school year out right with a trip to the Apple Farm for breakfast. It was usually the day before school was to start. I'd have them get up early, dress in a new outfit for school and we'd head off for a fun, wholesome breakfast of hot apple cider, bacon & eggs and those wonderful biscuits complete with Marionberry jam. Then we'd all go down and take "school pictures" in front of the Old Mill. Each year they'd grow a little taller and more mature, but the Old Mill backdrop remained the same. Some of my all time favorite pictures were taken there.
Now my kids are 32, 29, 27 and 23 but they haven't outgrown their love of the Apple Farm breakfast. We went this morning with husbands, fiance's and our one and only grandson. What a good feeling! I'm glad some traditions never die!
This mill was built August 1, 1871 by Nordyke and Marmon Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. The wheel itself is 14 feet in diameter and 3 feet wide and weighs over 6000 lbs. It is made from the wood of a single Oregon white oak tree. It must be made from the same tree in order to maintain a true balance and consistent density throughout the wheel. The mill produces 5 horsepower and 10,000 foot lbs. of torque. Inside the mill is a really sweet gift shop and an apple cider press that is no longer used. There is also an Ice Cream maker that produces 150 gallons of ice cream a week for the restaurant. You haven't lived until you've had Apple Farm's famous Apple Dumplings a la Mode.
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