Gunn’s Mill Mounument

The Gunn’s Mill Mounument is ocated along what is now called Gunn’s Creek, named after the Gunn family who owned this historic water-powered grist mill. Back in the day, this mill was part of a thriving settlement, where nine water-powered mills and 18 wind-powered mills processed the area’s grains. By the 1850s to 1870s, steam-powered mills began to replace these older methods, marking a shift in local industry. For more on milling and the history of Gunn’s Mill, click here.

The large stone you see in this monument is a millstone that weighs a hefty 1,200 pounds! This millstone was discovered in three pieces on the property in 2003. Millstones like this one were used to grind wheat and grains into flour. A large waterwheel, powered by the current of the river, would turn the heavy stone, making it a highly efficient process.

With the rich soil near the Red River, prairie grasses and grains grew abundantly, making milling a natural industry along the river.