A Grinding Operation

A Grinding Operation. Fort Atkinson State Historical Park. , A Gristmill and More , The Army constructed a gristmill south of the barracks for the purpose of grinding grain into flour. The key feature of a gristmill are two large, round stones that grind grain, such as wheat, into flour for more cooking varieties. Oxen likely powered the mill during the fort's existence, causing gears to rotate the millstones, one on top of the other, The distance between the two stones determined the grade of flour. Approximately 150 bushels could be ground in one day to create 7,500 pounds of flour. The ground grain was they stored in sacks or barrels. , The Daily Grind , An acre of land produced about 40 bushels of wheat annually. An estimated 1,000 bushels of wheat were grown at the fort in 1823. One bushel produced about 45 pounds of flour, which equates to 1,800 pounds of flour per acre. It took about 900 pounds of flour to make 1,000 loaves of bread. Approximately 1,100 troops served at Fort Atkinson during its peak, requiring more bread than a small city. , A Recipe for Tasty Bread , Approximately 196 pounds of flour mixed with two gallons of yeast and three pounds of salt made about 262 pounds of bread. As the population increased at Fort Atkinson, some loaves were made with half corn meal and half flour, causing Colonel Leavenworth to write, "The troops were perfectly satisfied with it." This recipe could also be used for biscuits. , Board and Bricks , A sawmill and a brick kiln were located near the gristmill, according to official records. The sawmill cut approximately 1,500 feat of plank at the height of the construction period of the fort in 1820. Residents in the area have discovered remnants of the brick kiln and pieces of brick that have been used in the construction of fireplaces and roads. The kiln served a dual purpose for drying corn for the winter and military excursions.