Early Signs of Industry

Early Signs of Industry. . The Mill Dam Road that extended from Leonard Calvert's house in the town center to the mill dam served as a causeway over Mill Creek. From there, the road joined Mattapany Road, which grew from an Indian trail along the Patuxent River. Most overland travelers in the 1600s entered St. Mary's City by this route., The mill at St. Mary's City was the first water-powered grist mill in Maryland. Mills ground grain into meal and flour. In addition to the water mill, there was also a windmill in St. Mary's City. It was located on Church Point near the present day Trinity Episcopal Church., From where you now stand, this road would have extended to the mill dam in the 17th century., [Captions:] , The remains of the 17th-century mill dam are still visible. When St. Mary's City was the capital of the colony, many visitors entered the city across the mill dam., It took approximately ten minutes of grinding with a mortar and pestle to get a cup of cornmeal. A typical daily ration for an adult was about four and a half cups. The task was so unpleasant that freed servants who hired themselves out sometimes had their contracts state that they would not have to "pound at the mortar.", [Aside:] , "The building of the mill was I Assure yr. Lop: a vast Charge vnto mee." , Thomas Cornwaleys to Cecil Calvert, 1638, Much corn was ground at the individual plantations with a simple mortar and pestle. However, grist mills to grind grain, powered either by water or wind, were the earliest "industrial" developments by European settlers. . This historical marker was erected by Historic St. Mary's City. It is in St. Mary's City in St. Mary's County Maryland