HISTORY OF THE MILL
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The Busti Historical Society was founded in 1972 as a result of the community's enthusiasm for the mill restoration project. The local Shamrocks 4-H club had decided to undertake the project of resorting the town's grist mill for historical and educational purposes, and residents of the town supported them. Interest in local history on the part of the volunteers and some others in the community was growing and expanding beyond the limits of the mill project. |
An historical society became a concept of obvious appeal. This was a bold concept at the time because then only two historical societies (not counting one or two school sponsored Yorkers Clubs) existed in the county: the venerable and county wide Chautauqua County Historical Society (1883) and the Fenton Historical Society (1963) in the city of Jamestown which had a population nearly five times that of Busti. Busti obviously served as an example and success story for the many small town historical societies that have since formed locally.
We maintain and operate the 1839 Busti Grist Mill, the miller’s house, the Busti Museum, and the demonstration building. We also present the Busti Apple Harvest Festival, the favorite historical craft fair of southwestern New York, every September on the last Sunday of the month. We are chartered by the New York State Department of Education. We collect and conserve artifacts and records of the Town of Busti, and promote the appreciation and continued knowledge of the pioneer and 19th century crafts and survival skills of the area. |
The mill is available for milling by appointment.
Visitors can see it on operation at the Apple Festival which is held the last Sunday of every September, rain or shine. The mill, even when it is not actively milling, is available for tours. Email info@bustihistorical society.com to arrange a tour of the mill. |
Pioneers settled the area now known as Busti in 1810. It was known as Fank's Settlement then. Other settlers in nearby communities were already growing wheat and Busti's residents got their flour from mills in Kennedy, Falconer, Lander, Frewsberg, and in Pennsylvania. As years went by, other mills opened in Ashville and Jamestown, but Busti's population was growing, and they needed a mill of their own.
It is believed that the current grist mill was built in 1839 by Francis Sowl on the site of an earlier mill (which may have been a saw mill) that was built by Heman Bush. Improvements in the roads leading to neighboring towns and cities were greatly improved by the mid 20th century, and the town's reliance on the mill dwindled. The owner had other business interests in the area and rented the mill out to other millers. The mill was used less and less and finally closed in 1959. In 1964, the town of Busti gained the deed to the land, which included mill, miller's house and other property.
It is believed that the current grist mill was built in 1839 by Francis Sowl on the site of an earlier mill (which may have been a saw mill) that was built by Heman Bush. Improvements in the roads leading to neighboring towns and cities were greatly improved by the mid 20th century, and the town's reliance on the mill dwindled. The owner had other business interests in the area and rented the mill out to other millers. The mill was used less and less and finally closed in 1959. In 1964, the town of Busti gained the deed to the land, which included mill, miller's house and other property.
Around that time, Erlene Lydell of Pine Ridge Road expressed an interest in preserving the mill for historical purposes. Interest grew in the community, and in 1970, three teens from the local Shamrocks 4-H club, Mary Sienkiewicz, Diane Pangborn, and Louise Carlson, decided to make it their mission to restore it. In 1971, the girls won a $500 grant from the Readers' Digest Foundation and the restoration began.
The town of Busti was reluctant to transfer the deed to the property to a group of teens, but their idea had generated support in the community, and enthusiastic residents formed a non-proft historical society to manage the project and property. The society developed a festival to celebrate pioneer life as a way to generate money for the project, and the festival soon grew to become the Busti Apple Festival. Proceeds from the festival funded the restoration which was complete in 2014. The mill is the highlight of the festival which draws around 10,000 visitors for the one day event.
See more images of the mill in the General Gallery.
Click the links below to read historic documents about the history of the mill.
Busti Mill and Heman Bush
An article from The Chautauqua Genealogist newsletter from May, 1989, written by Busti Historical Society member Norman Carlson. This examination of secondary sources attempts to establish an accurate date for the construction of the mill and uses many historical documents relating to one of the town's earliest residents, Heman Bush.
Consolidated Restoration History
This document details how the mill came to be the property of the town of Busti. It describes the initial interest, in 1969, in restoring it to functionality for educational and utilitarian purposes, and how the project of restoration was taken up by three teens from the local Shamrocks 4-H club in 1970. It contains details about the process of getting the project started and the restoration itself. The article also contains a history of the Busti Historical Society.
Grist Mill in Busti 1871
Newspaper Article (Jamestown Journal) from December 19, 1971 written by (who?) giving interesting details about the operation of the mill. The article contains statistics about the size of the creek that supplied the power, the sizes of the stones and gears, the output or capacity of the mill, and more. This article was written at the height of the mill's importance in the town.
Mill History 2013
This document, titled "Mill Guide’s Handbook retyped work copy" is a long comprehensive history of the mill.
Timeline Summary
Contains a list of Historical Society presidents from 1972 to 2013 as well as the dates of major milestones in the restoration of the mill.
SHARE YOUR STORY OF BUSTI! Visit the historical contributions page for information about donating items, photos, or stories.
If you would like to become a member of the Busti Historical Society, download and complete the membership form and mail it to:
The Busti Historical Society
3443 Lawson Road
Jamestown, NY 14701
