The 4.5-acre park,
which is owned by Asylum Township, contains the remnants of an 1827
grist mill, called originally "Homet's
Mill", but now it is a public park and has recently changed its
name to "Old Mill Park".
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From colonial times and into the first half of the nineteenth
century, gristmills flourished in America by meeting an important
local need in agricultural communities: grinding the farmers' grain
and levying a toll, usually in kind, for the service. In some
especially productive localities, mills grew large and millers
operated as merchants, buying and exporting the area's surplus
grain. Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, however, the
opening of the great grain-producing areas of the West, railroad
construction, steam power, and the growth and concentration of
industry eventually drove most of the small local mills out of
business. Relics of the once decentralized American milling
industry can still be found along the streams of many of the older
states. The massive "grinding stones" of gristmills were once much
sought after as ornaments for courtyards or gardens.
Starting in 1793,
locally several small
shops, a schoolhouse, a chapel, and a theatre appeared around the
market square; dairying and sheep raising were begun; orchards and
gardens were planted; "a
gristmill", blacksmith shop and a distillery were erected; and
the manufacture of potash and pearlash
was established.
Sadly, in time money became harder to obtain, income sources in
France stopped and many of the emigrants drifted away. Although a
few families, the LaPortes,
Homets,
LeFevres,
Brevosts and
D'Autremonts remained in Pennsylvania
where their progeny helped to settle
Wysox, Wyalusing, Athens, Towanda and
other communities, Azilum itself passed
into history.
Today...the
grist stone from the
old mill is set into a rock wall with dates, and foundations can
still be seen on the grounds.
The park has a
gravel boat ramp, parking for up to 10 cars, a seasonal restroom,
picnic table/pavilion, charcoal grill.
Not to mention the park
can be used for fishing. It is open to the public from dawn to
dusk. ENJOY!!!!
If your interested in foundation remnants? Checkout behind the
Pavilion.
(Note: GPS reception is not strong!!)