Something is wrong with this stump

[Wooden Affairs]

So I run heavy equipment with my father that is where we get our wood from. We are working as dirt subcontractors on a bridge near home. There was a cotton gin at this location many moons ago. But where did it go? The answer, downstream in the forties. Time changes things.
So today we are pushing trees. This hackberry pops out with unusual ease, lucky us. When I go to move it the Skid streer will barely move the small tree. Enter the pictures. I moved it to the open to look at it and discovered a large concrete cylinder, only it was stone. It has some very odd grooves on the bottom. I do not really know what it is maybe a grindstone. There is a metal ring and a hole, that is where the tree come in. The stone is not local and about 3 ft thick. Then we found a lot of very old ash and a boiler cover. These artifacts will be a welcome addition to the logs. I hope we find more stuff. I have found a old safe 1/4 mile up stream. It was full, of dirt but still neat. If any one knows what the stone is please let me know. Also an aged Mesquite Log. Cellphone pics, please forgive me.

 

[ohiococonut]

It's most likely an old mill stone. The grooves were called furrows and they were used for grinding corn meal and flour. Some years ago there was one still in use by the Amish not too far from me.

There are some people that collect old mill stones and I've heard that some can be identified by the type of stone, size and groove pattern because not all of them were used for food. Some were used for horse feed because of the type of stone. The local city not too far from me has one at the end of main street as a monument. It came from the old grist mill that was next to the river.

 

[firewhatfire]

they also sell for a good price also. so dont just give it away before getting it checked. If I remember I think I saw one go for about 1500 a year or so back.

 

[simomatra]

Nice haul

 

[IPD_Mr]

Yes it is a mill stone. They had them on an episode of American Pickers not too long ago. Phil os correct that they are worth a good deal. The one on the show went in William Shatners landscaping and was $2500.

 

[Wooden Affairs]

I bet they used it to make feed from the cotton by products. They did not waste a thing back then.

 

[randyrls]

Yes; The cotton seed was ground to release oil from the cotton seed. The oil is still used today...

 

[Wooden Affairs]

No, big score today. Unless 6 Trailer loads of logs that we were piad to haul off is a score. I love state jobs.