Alley Roller Mill and Spring
Image courtesy Shannon Eldred. Used with permission.
Welcome to a little spot of heaven: The Alley Roller Mill and Spring in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
PLEASE NOTE: Construction has ended and the secret word can be found. Please send the secret word AND complete the picture portion of the logging requirements.
Alley has a special place in my heart; I have many fond memories here. From exploring the mill and seeing its amazing equipment, to enjoying the beauty of the spring, or as a little tyke, crawling through the grottoes along Alley Branch, I can find something to recollect nearly everywhere I look. I grew up within a short drive of here and I’ve taken many float-trips down the nearby Jacks Fork River. One of my favorite spots was where the Alley Branch joins the Jacks Fork. In the 1990’s there was tree that leaned out over the river just downstream of the junction that had a rope swing on it. We’d always pull the canoe over and spend some time playing before heading further downstream to Eminence.
The cache will bring you to Alley Roller Mill and Spring, two of the crown jewels of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. This setting was featured in 2017 as part of the US Mint's "America the Beautiful" Quarters series. Here you can find picturesque landscapes and architecture, clear pristine waters, significant stands of old-growth white oak, and lots of history.
Before we get to the cache requirements, I’ll share a bit of history and some pictures – hopefully they’ll convince you to make the trip to this amazing spot in the heart of the Ozarks.
History and Pictures:
The next four paragraphs are adapted from a pamphlet I obtained at the mill on October 14, 2017 titled: Alley Spring – Alley: A Spring, A Mill, A Story that was published by National Park Service.
The mill here was vital to community life, where grain was ground to provide daily bread. The present building was constructed in 1894 by George Washington McCaskill as a merchant mill and was equipped with modern machinery that utilized steel rollers for grinding. It was larger than most mills in the Jacks Fork area and replaced an earlier grist mill on the same site that was built in 1868. Originally unpainted, it was first painted the white with green trim and then later the famous red color associated with the mill today.
The process of converting wheat into flour was lengthy and time-consuming, while grinding corn was relatively easy. The farmer brought his wheat or corn to the miller, who made an agreement to either buy or make a trade for the grain. If the farmer brought the grain to be milled for his own consumption, the miller would often take a “toll” or percentage of the grain in exchange for grinding.
Since the water supply of Alley Spring was constant, it seemed to be an ideal place for a mill. Whereas an exterior water wheel powered the mill stones in a traditional grist mill, a submerged turbine powered the machines in a steel roller mill. Free water power was especially alluring for the owners of Alley roller mill; however recurring floods made the operation only marginally successful.
The Alley roller mill was a very progressive business venture for its time and place. The complex design and machinery could only be provided by specialized manufacturers from the east. A master millwright was employed to oversee construction of the Alley roller mill. Unfortunately, this type of mill was designed to process wheat flour for commercial markets in an area where corn was the main crop. This marketing error presented another headwind for the mill’s viability.
Another fantastic resource is the original nomination form to have the mill added to the National Register of Historic Places. You can find it here.
Alley Mill from downstream
Picture from the bluff above Alley Spring
Water leaving the mill turbine
Some machinery in the mill
Shallow cave along Alley Branch
Videos:
Here are some videos of the area I found online - enjoy!
History Video - Complete with bluegrass background music
Drone Flyover in Winter
Planning your visit:
I highly encourage you to make the loop around the spring in a counterclockwise fashion. Stop at the school and then head to the mill. Make your way around the spring and down the trail that follows Alley Branch. You'll never see water more clear or beautiful.
The site is open year-round and the Visitor Information Center in the mill (a must-do) is open from Memorial day to Labor day seven days a week from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Take your time and explore two floors of well-preserved 19th century technology and local history. Check here for the latest schedule updates.
Special Events: Alley hosts several special events throughout the year including an Independence Day celebration, Haunting of the Hills in October, and a Christmas Celebration. Check here for updated schedules and details.
How to claim this cache:
There are two things you must do to claim this cache. Both are required to keep your smiley. Once you complete both tasks, you may claim the find without waiting for my response. I may or may not reply to your message.
1. Upload an image of your trip to Alley that has in the background, something unmistakable as Alley - such as the mill, the school house, or a sign. The picture must also include any one of the following:
A. The left hand (with fingers extended) of everyone claiming the cache
- or -
B. A full-body picture (faces not required) of everyone claiming the cache with left-hands open
- or -
C. A written sign/note with your caching names and the date visible. No photo-editing allowed!
Remember: Whichever option you choose, make sure something unmistakable as Alley is in the picture background
2. Send me a message using the Geocaching.com messaging feature (not an email) that contains the SECRET word described below. You may send a single message for your caching group (include everyone's caching names), but note that I'll check your pictures for people, open left hands, or caching names and dates.
How to find the SECRET word:
1. Proceed to the listed coordinates near the northeast corner of the mill
2. Go south to where the raised platform joins the east side of the mill
3. Squat with your back to the mill and look under the platform in an east-southeasterly direction
4. You will see a piece of cast belt-handling equipment that has six words on it
5. The one word that is repeated is the SECRET word
Note: On bright days or at dusk a flashlight may be helpful
No armchair logging will be tolerated. If your log or message does not conform to the requirements, I'll let you know and give you an opportunity to fulfill the requirements before I delete your log. Also, do not put the SECRET word in your online log, even if encrypted; in this case, I will delete your log immediately.
This is a Virtual Reward Cache
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.